102 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Qame. — Eiders are shot in winter off the Maine coast from blinds 

 among the rocks off the islands and occasionally from boats. Wooden 

 decoys are used and the sport requires much energy and endurance 

 in the winter seas. The birds are very shy, easily taking alarm, and 

 with their strong flight and well-made armor of thick feathers and 

 down are very difficult to kill. Cripples are rarely recovered, as 

 they escape by rapid diving and long swimming under water. Their 

 value for down should, however, preserve them from persecution at 

 all seasons. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — Islands along the coasts of Labrador (south of 

 Hamilton Inlet), Newfoundland, eastern Quebec (north shore of the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence), Nova Scotia, and Maine (west to Penobscot 

 Bay). Also in the southern half of Hudson Bay and James Bay at 

 least as far north as Richmond Gulf, Southampton Island, and Cape 

 FuUerton. It intergrades with horealis at the northern limits of its 

 breeding range. 



Winter ran^^.— Northeastern coasts, from Newfoundland and the 

 Gulf of St. Lawrence south regularly to Massachusetts (Vineyard 

 Sound and Nantucket), rarely to New Jersey, and casually farther 

 south. 



Spring migration. — Northward movement starts late in March or 

 early in April. Usual date of departure from Massachusetts is about 

 April 20; unusually late dates are, Connecticut, Miiford, May 29; 

 Massachusetts, May 18. 



Fall migration. — Early dates of arrival in Massachusetts: Essex 

 County, September 20 ; Cohasset, September 18 ; usual date of arrival 

 is early in November. 



Casual records. — Inland wanderings have occurred as far west as 

 Wisconsin (Lake Koshkonong, November, 1891), Iowa (Sioux City, 

 November 1, 1901), and Colorado (LoA'eland). 



Egg dates. — Labrador Peninsula : Twenty-five records. May 2G to 

 July 9; thirteen records, June 5 to 20. Maine, New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia: Ten records. May 25 to July 5; five records, June 12 

 to Julj^ 1. 



SOMATERIA V-NIGRA Gray 



PACIFIC EIDER 

 HABITS 



The common eider of the Pacific coast is closely related to the 

 eiders of the Atlantic coast, perhaps more closely than its present 

 status in nomenclature would seem to indicate. The ranges of the 

 Pacific eider and the northern eider on the Arctic coasts of North 



