ABT. 12 BIRDS OF ST. LAWRE^TCE ISLAND FEIEDMANN 15 



Nelson ^^ writes that this eider is found everywhere about the 

 shores and islands of Bering Sea, but gives no definite mention of 

 St. Lawrence Island. Brooks found the species common in pairs 

 early in June. Bailey writes that "great flocks of them were seen 

 along the edge of the ice * * * from King Island to St. 

 Lawrence Island." 



Collins obtained a third-grown juvenal female on September 21; 

 three adult males, all in molt, on September 27, October 11, and 

 October 20 ; and four adult females, June 1, October 12, and October 

 20. The last four show a great deal of variation in coloration; the 

 two October birds are in fresh plumage, the June bird and one with- 

 out date are in worn condition. 



The juvenal bird is in natal down, with the first pennaceous feath- 

 ering just beginning to show on the wings, tail, breast, and belly. 



The adult males taken on September 27 and October 11 have 

 brownish heads, necks, and breasts; the one shot on October 20 has 

 the head largely white with the heavy black crown patch, and has 

 a white neck and breast, scapulars, and interscapulars. 



According to Phillips," the males begin to molt into the eclipse 

 plumage, illustrated by the three specimens discussed above, soon 

 after the first of July, and this plumage is often retained in part until 

 November. 



When on St. Lawrence Island on Jidy 13, 1899, the Harriman 

 Expedition saw a few of these ducks, but did not collect any. It 

 would be interesting to know how early the postnuptial molt begins 

 on that island. 



SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS (Linna^^us) 

 King Eider 



Anas spectabilis Linnaeus, Systenia natiiiae, ed. 10, vol. 1, p. 123, 1758 (in 

 Canada, Svecia= Sweden). 



Somateria spectabilis, Nexson, Report upon natural history collections made 

 in Alaska, p. 79, 1887. — Brooks, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. 59, p. 395, 

 1915.— Heksey, Smithsonian Misc. Coll., vol. 66, no. 2, p. 20, 1916.— Bent, 

 U. S. Nat. Mus. Bull. 130, p. 118, 1925.— Phillips, Natural history of the 

 ducks, vol. 4, p. 117, 1926.— A. O. U. check-list of North American birds, 

 ed. 4, p. 57, 1931.— Peters, Chock-list of the birds of the world, vol. 1, p. 

 380, 1931. 



Nelson reported king eiders as being common on St. Lawrence 

 Island ; Brooks found them numerous about Cape Chibukak, in pairs 

 and small flocks, on June 2 ; Hersey writes that " during the summer 

 the king eider occurs regularly as far south as St. Lawrence Island 

 where they doubtless breed * * *." According to Phillips, 



^^ Birds of Bt>ring Sea and the Arctic Ocean. Cruise of tlie revenue-steamer Corwin 

 in Alaska and tiie NW. Arctic Ocean in 1881, p. 101, 1883. 

 "Natural liistor.v of the duclss, vol. 4, p. 8.'',. 1026. 



