78 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



by the under parts, both of which remain as in the fully adult plum- 

 age. During the spring the plumage of the male becomes very much 

 M^orn and in June it begins to molt into the eclipse. The brilliant 

 plumage of the head and neck entirely disappears ; the " spectacles " 

 become " mouse gray," mottled with buff, and the rest of the head 

 and neck become mottled and variegated with various shades of gray, 

 buff, and dusky ; the white mantle is entirely, or nearly all, replaced 

 by plain " wood brown " or " deep mouse gray " feathers ; many 

 feathers barred with dark brown and buffy shades appear on the 

 chest and shoulders; the white rump spots disappear; the conspic- 

 uous white wing coverts and white curving tertials are concealed by 

 the dark scapulars and flank feathers while the bird is not in flight. 



Food. — All that I can find published as to the food of this species 

 is the short statement by Doctor Nelson (1887) that: "Their food in 

 summer consists of small Crustacea, grass, seeds, and such other food 

 as the brackish pools afford." 



Behavior. — The same writer says: 



They fly in small compact flocks, rarely exceeding 50 birds in a flock, and 

 skim close along the surface of the ice or marsh with a flight very similar to 

 that of other heavy-bodied sea ducks. 



Winter. — The winter home of the spectacled eider does not seem 

 to be well known, but, as it has been recorded in winter in both the 

 western and the eastern Aleutian Islands, its main winter range is 

 probably in the vicinity of these islands, where so many other north- 

 ern sea fowl are known to spend the winter in the comparatively 

 mild open water, tempered by the Japan current. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — Arctic coasts of Alaska and Siberia. East to 

 Point Barrow at least. South to the Bering Sea coast of Alaska to 

 the mouth of the Kuskokwim River. Westward along the north 

 coast of Siberia to the mouth of the Lena River and to the New 

 Siberia Islands. 



Wmter- range. — Mainly in the vicinity of the Aleutian and Prib- 

 ilof Islands, and more sparingly eastward along the south side of 

 the Alaska Peninsula to Sanakh Island. 



Spring miginMon. — Early dates of arrival in Alaska : St. Michael, 

 May 6 ; Point Hope, May 4 ; Cape Prince of Wales, May 16 ; Wain- 

 wright. May 28; Point Barrow, May 26. 



Fall migration. — Latest date of departure from Point Barrow is 

 September 17. 



Egg dates. — Alaska : Twelve records, June 8 to July 4 ; six records, 

 June 15 to 26. 



