422 BIRDS OF ARCTIC AMERICA MACFART.ANE. 



161. Soniateria v-nigra Gray. Pacific Eider. 



This interesting eider breeds in immense numbers on tbe shores of 

 Franklin Bay ; it is also very abundant on the coast and islands of Liv- 

 erpool Bay. The nest is usually a shallow cavity in the grouud, more 

 or less plentifully lined with down. The eggs are generally five, and 

 but rarely six and seven in number, of a pale sea-green color, " with a 

 tiuge of olive." We found some nests on a sloping bank at a distance 

 of three huudred or more feet from the sea. Others were also on the 

 main land, but the bulk of those secured by us were obtained from 

 sandy islets in the bays. Over one thousand eggs of the S. v-nigra, I 

 think first made known by us, were forwarded to Washington. The 

 male bird is very wild and difiicult of approach, especially after being 

 once fired at. On one occasion we discovered a nest contaiuiug four 

 eggs from observing a whi.e owl engaged in eating them. Female birds 

 appeared to be always largely in excess of males in the bay. 



162. Somateria spectabilis (Liuu.). King Eider. 



Tolerably numerous in Frauklin Bay, where an aggregate of some 

 two hundred eggs were secured on the several summer (1862 to 1865) 

 visits paid to that quarter. The nest is similar to that of the above 

 eider, and when not disturbed the female usually lays from four to six 

 *ggs. In color they are generally of a light shade of olive gray, and 

 some are of a grayish green. In addition to the eggs above mentioned 

 the contents of about twenty nests were also received Irom the Esqui- 

 maux of Liverpool Bay. A few birds occasionally breed in close prox- 

 imity to 8. v-nigra, and the male is nearly as wary in keeping beyond 

 gunshot. 



163. Oidemia aniericana Sw. and Rich.. American Scoter. 



This duck undoubtedly breeds in the Anderson Eiver country, 

 ulthough we never succeeded in obtaining any authenticated speci- 

 mens. There are also some other breeding water birds whose eggs have 

 110 doubt eluded discovery. 



165. ©idemia deglaudi Bonaparte. Wbite-wiuged Scoter. 



The Velvet Duck breeds in large numbers throughout the region 

 under review, as several nests were found in the " Barrens," some near 

 the Fort, a few on the Lower Anderson and in other parts of the wooded 

 sections ; these were always depressions in the ground, lined with down, 

 feathers, and dry grasses, and placed contiguous to ponds or sheets of 

 fresh water, frequently amid clumps of small spruce or dwarf willow, 

 and fairly well concealed from view. The number of eggs found in a 

 uest varied between five and eight. 



