Family ANATIDAE. 



Somateria mollissima (L.) — Eider Duck. 



(Plate 189, fig. a-b). 

 (Snouckaert: Avifauna Neerlandica, p. 131, No. 313). 



Colour of surface of shell : 



Average dimensions: 

 Average weight of shell: 

 Texture of shell: 

 Shape : 



Nest: 



Down (In bulk): 



Small feathers: 



Site of nest: 

 Number of eggs: 

 Breeding season: 

 Duration of incubation : 



greyish green or greyish yellow, in various 

 shades; the shell often has dark-green oily 

 spots, and is frequently also covered with 

 green cloudlets as a consequence of an 

 unusual distribution of the pigment. ') 



78 51.5 millimetres. 



about 9 grams. 



fine and smooth. 



varies from roundish to pointed elongated 

 oval. 



consists of vegetable materials, lined with 

 down. 



brownish grey, with numerous dull white 

 spots. 



greyish white, becoming lighter towards the 

 base; the centrum with dark brown bands; 

 the top portion brownish yellow with 

 dark spots. 



among sand-elymus plants. 



4—7. 



May, June. 



about 28 days. 



') In the case of green eggs of Anas domcstica this sometimes causes such 

 peculiar deviations as to make the pigment seem to have been applied artifi- 

 cially as it were. 



