118 BULLETIN 130, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Capt. J, G. Scott, keeper of the lighthouse at Montauk Point, who 

 reported them: 



Living off the Point since early iu November (11), when I saw a flock of 

 4 ; the next day I saw 10 at one time. They appear less shy than the other 

 wild fowl and will permit a nearer approach in a boat. In this locality it ia 

 seen occasionally in the winter months on the ocean from one-quarter to one- 

 half mile from shore. It is not a common duck, and I believe it is only a few 

 years since thej' have been seen off Montauk Point, but this winter they have 

 been more than usually common. There is a shoal, with a depth of water 

 from 15 to 20 feet, about one-quarter of a mile off the Point, where I go to 

 shoot ducks, but can only do so when the surf will permit. Every time I have 

 visited this spot this winter I have seen from 4 to 20 king eiders. 



The king eider spends the winter as far north as it can find open 

 water; in southern Greenland it associates with the northern eider 

 in the open water in the fjords, but probably the greater number 

 spend the winter at sea on the edges of the ice packs or in the open 

 leads. On the western side of the continent the principal winter 

 resort of this species is in the vicinity of the Aleutian Islands, where 

 so many other sea ducks find congenial surroundings and abundant 

 food. Some few birds winter as far north as the Diomede Islands, 

 and many resort to the islands south of the Alaska Peninsula. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Breeding range. — Arctic coasts of both hemispheres. On both 

 coasts of Greenland, north to 82° 30', less abundantly in southern 

 Greenland. In North America south to northern Labrador 

 (Nachvak), Hudson Straits (Wales Sound), northern Hudson Bay 

 (Southampton Island and Cape Fullerton), and the entire Arctic 

 coasts of Canada and Alaska. On St. Lawrence and St. INIatthew 

 Islands, in Bering Sea. All along the Arctic coast of Siberia, on 

 Nova Zembla, and on Spitsbergen. North on Arctic islands to 

 Melville Island and probably others up to at least 76° N. 



Winter range. — South on the Atlantic coast more or less regularly 

 to Massachusetts (Vineyard Sound) and New York (Long Island), 

 more rarely to New Jersey, and casually farther south. South in 

 the interior frequently to the Great Lakes (Ontario, Erie, and 

 Michigan) and casually beyond. On the Pacific coast south to the 

 Aleutian, Kodiak, and Shumagin Islands. North as far as open 

 water extends in Bering Sea and around southern Greenland. In 

 the Eastern Hemisphere it visits Iceland, the Faroes, Norway, Den- 

 mark, Great Britain, Holland, and the Baltic Sea, and has occurred 

 in France (twice) and Italy (four times). 



Spring migration. — Early dates of arrival : Greenland, Igloolik, 

 latitude 69°, April 16, and Etah, May 1; Wellington Channel, lati- 

 tude 76°, June 9; Fort Conger, latitude 82°, June 11. Late dates 



