ORNITHOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS. 



173 



78. Somateria v-nigra Gray. 



1769.— Anas mollissima Pallas, Spicil. Zool., V, p. 28 (wee Lin.).— <S'oma/eHa m. Tac- 



ZAN., Oni. Faun. Vost. Sibir., p. 71 {lyart) (1877).— M, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, 



1877, p. 48.-1(1, ibid., 1883, p. 398. 

 1826. — Somaferia cutberti Pall., Zoogr. Ross. As., II, p. 23.5 (part). 

 ISbry.— Somateria v-nigra Gray, P. Z. S., 1855, p. 212, pi. cvii.— Dall and Bannist., 



Tr. Cbicag. Acad., I, 1869, p. 300.— Dall, Avif. Aleut. IsL Unal. westw.,p. 



7 (1874).— Bean, Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1882, p. 167.— Nelson, Cruise Cor- 



win, p. 101 (1883).— Turner, Auk, 1885, p. 158. 

 1856.— Somateria v-nigriim 15onap., Compt. Rend., XLIII, 1856, p. 650.— Stejneger, 



Natnren, 1884, p. 51. 



The only adult male I obtained was shot on tlie 3d of July, being 

 still in its wliite and elegant breeding dress. But under the "white 

 feathers the brown post-nuptial i^lumage, which is only assumed for a 

 very short time, had already made its appearance, and a few of the dark 

 feathers were so far out as to show themselves between the white ones 

 on the back, although still partly in their sheaths. It would therefore 

 seem as if the Pacific Eider assumes its i)Ost-nuptial plumage somewhat 

 later than its Atlantic cousin, of which old males, with the dark plum- 

 age almost fully developed, are known from various parts of Scandi. 

 navia as early as the latter part of June, notwithstanding that the 

 breeding of the two species takes place at exactly the same time. 



List of specimens obtained. 



No. 92848. — Iris dark brown. BUI bright and pure orange, deeper brownish-red orange towards the 

 base; lower mandible paler; nail cream-colored. Feetpale brownish orange; joints dusky ; webs black- 

 ish brown. New (brown) feathers in their sheaths on different parts of the body, on the sides of the 

 rump, shoulder region, and especially neck and head. Weight, 4J pounds. 



No. 92850.— Iris blackish brown. Bill plumbeous, with an olive tinge ; nail homy yellow. Feet very 

 dark yellowish gray; webs blackish. Gullet filled with Gammaridce. 



The Pacific Eider is now rather scarce on the Commander Islands. 

 On Copper Island there are only a few places where it at present breeds, 

 in very restricted numbers, namely, at Gladkovskij and at another creek 

 nearer to Karabelnij. From there I got a male in perfect plumage, a fe- 



