AXATID.E— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 177 



S. dresseri. Adult male with lobe or angle of bill broad and rounded at posterior ex- 

 tremity, its length, from anterior extremity of loral feathering, 1.75-2.00; width across 

 middle, not less than .45; black of head bordered below by pale green for nearly the whole 

 length; female with angle of bill about 1.87x.22, depth of upper mandible at base .78. 



The third American species, the Pacific Eider (S. v^higra) is 

 a larger and finer bird than either of the eastern species. It 

 resembles them in color but has a large V-shaped black mark 

 on the throat and a bright orange-colored bill. It inhabits the 

 northwestern parts of the continent, as well as northeastern 

 Asia. 



Somateria dresseri Sharpe. 



AMERICAN EIDER. 



Popular synonyms. Wamp (Connecticut); Squam Duck (Maine); Big Sea Duck (Long 

 Island). 



Ana* mollissima Wils. Am. Orn. viii, 1814, 122, pi. 71 (nee Linn.). 

 Fuligula [Somateria) mollissima Nutt. Man. ii, 1834, 107. 

 Fuligula mollissima Aud. Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 344; v.1839,611, pl.246; Synop. 1839,291; 



B. Am. vi, 1843,349. pi. 405. 

 Somateria mollissima Bonap. Comp. List, 18S8, 57 (part).— Baird, B. N. Am. 1858,809; 

 Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 606.— Coues. Key. 1872, 293; Check List, 1873, No. 513. 

 8omateria dresseri Sharpe, Ann. Mag. N. H. July, 1871, 51, flgs. 1.2.— B. B. & B. Water B. 

 N. Am. ii, 1884, 7*;.— A. 0. U. Check List, 1886, No. 160— Ridgw. Man. N. Am. E. 1887,110. 

 Somateria mollissima, var. (?) dresseri Coues, Birds N. W. 1874, 580. 

 Somateria mollissima dresseri Ridgw. Proc. U. 8. Nat. Mus. iii, 1880, 205, 222; Nom. N. 

 Am. B. 1881, No. 627 a— Coues, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 731. 



Had. American coasts of the North Atlantic, from Maine, Newfoundland, etc., to 

 ; in winter, south to Long Island, Delaware, Ontario, Wisconsin, and northern Ohio 

 and Illinois. 



Sp. Char. Adult male: Similar to S. mollissima, but the "cere" very much bi 

 (.38 to .50 of an inch wide anteriorly), much corrugated, the posterior extremity broad 

 and rounded; green of the head rather more extended, usually following along under- 

 neath the black almost or quite to the bill. "Bill pale grayish yellow, the unguis lighter, 

 the soft tumid part pale flesh- color; iris brown; feet dingy light green, the webs dusky" 

 (Audubon^. A ■ arcely distinguishable from that of 8. mollissima, but basal 



angles of the maxilla deeper and broader. "Bill pule grayish green; iris and feet as in 

 the male" (Audubon)*, Downy young: Not distinguishable from thai of 8. moUissimail). 



Total length, about 21.00 to 26.00 inch- . 39.00 to 42.00; wing. 11.15-11.50; culmen. 



1.95-2.10; from tip of bill to end of basal angle, 2.75-3.35; greatest width of angle. .38-.50; 

 tarsus, 2.00-2.20; mi<ldl<: toe, 2.511-2.70 (six examples). 



Though nearly related to the true Eider of Europe (S. mottis- 

 sima), the American Eider is clearly distinct. Its habits, qow- 

 ever 3 are much t he same. 



• 



* Th( r of an adult male received at the National Museum from Wood' 



lary 24, 1888, were as follows: Lobesof bill, as far as the nostrils, dull 

 olay-yellowi8h. lighter and more tinged with olive along lower edge; nails of bill dull 

 b white; resl <>f bill horn-grayish; feet litcht yellov the webs 



grayish dusky. 



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