940 



SYSTEM A TIC SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLIROSTRES — ANSERES. 



extensively greenish on sides of head, along border of the black cap, and sometimes a trace 

 of black on chin indicating an approach to v-nigrum ; form of bill diflferent, exhibiting an 

 approach to that of spectahilis. General profile of culmeu concavo-convex, the frontal processes 

 being wider, higher, more obtuse, and more divaricating than iu mollissima (compare figs, and 

 foregoing description). The difference is obvious on comparison of specimens, and may now 

 be held of specific value, as no intermediate specimens are forthcoming. Culmen 2.00 or more; 

 from apex of frontal process to tip of bill about 3.00; along gape 2.50. 9 differs as in case 

 of mollissima. Ducklings in down plain grayish-brown, paler grayish below, grayish-white 

 on belly, these tones all shading insensibly ; but has a dusky stripe on each side t)f the head, 

 conti-asting with light color over the eyes and on the chin. North America, northerly, especially 

 on the Atlantic Coast ; also on large inland waters ; not noted from the N. Pacific ; S. regu- 

 larly in winter to New England, more rarely to the Middle States; breeding from the Maine 



-^3V"~'S 



J-Wo^. 



Fig. C,r>9. — Pacific Eider. (From " Wild Fowl of North America," by D. G. Elliot.) 



coast northward, abundantly in Newfoundland and Labrador, where it is one of the character- 

 istic birds. Nest on the ground, of mosses, lichens, hay, sea-weed, and down-feathers ; eggs 

 6-10, usually fewer, plain dull greenish-drab, about 3.00 X 2.00, laid in June and July. S. 

 mollissima (var. ?) of orig. ed. of the Key, 1872, p. 293; S. m. dresseri of 2d-4th eds. 1884- 

 90, p. 712 (on p. 905 of 4th ed. given inadvertently, as S. m. borealis). S. dresseri Shakpe, 

 1871 : A. 0. U. Lists, 188G and 1895, No. 160. 



S. v-nig'rum. (Quasi-Lat. v-nigrum, noting the black V-shaped mark or chevron on 

 the throat. Fig. 659.) Pacific Eider. Like the two preceding, but with a large black 

 V-shaped mark on throat, pointing forward and forking behind, as in spectahilis. While the 

 plumage is otherwise as in the common Eider, the shape of bill and character of its feathering 

 are appreciably different, furnishing useful characters, especially in the case of 9 . The frontal 

 processes are acute and parallel, as in mollissima, but the gibbosity of bill is greater than in 

 dresseri ; while the feathers upon its sides do not extend so far (scarcely or not reaching oppo- 



