144 A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA 



307. Somateria mollissima mollissima (L.) — THE COMMON 



EIDER. 



Anas mollissima Linnaeas, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 124 (1758 — X. Europe). 

 Somateria mollissima (Linnspus), Yarrell, iv, p. 457 ; Saunders, p. 459. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Resident and winter-visitor. Breeds 

 coast of Northumberland, Holy Isle and Fame Isles ; along east coast 

 Scotland, in Orkneys, Shetlands, 0. and many I. Hebrides, parts of 

 Argyll coast, and in recent years northwards on west coast. As a 

 winter-visitor uncommon or rare on west and south coasts Great 

 Britain, but lately increased in parts of north-west Scotland ; on 

 «ast coast regular, becoming more abundant from Xorthumberland 

 northwards. Ireland. — Rare vagrant ; under forty recorded from 

 all provinces. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in north-western Palaearctic region 

 from Iceland to shores of Kara Sea and south to Sylt and (casually) 

 Vlieland and Terschelling Islands. In winter along coasts of Europe, 

 occasionally to south Europe and Azores. Replaced bj^ closety -allied 

 forms in North America, Greenland, Spitsbergen, and north-east Asia. 



[XoTE. — An Eider shot at Graeinsay (Orkneys) Dec. 14, 1904. and said to 

 have been a Pacific Eider, Somateria moUissiyna. x-nigrutn Gray {Bull. B.O.C, 

 XV, p. 32 : Zool., 1905, pp. 74, 142, 143 ; Ann. S.N.H., 1905, p. 183), was sub- 

 sequently proved to be a variety of the Common Eider, Somateria m. mollissima^ 

 (cf. Bull. B.O.C., XIX, p. 80 ; Brit. B., i, pp. 15, 09, 125, 158.] 



SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS 



308. Somateria spectabilis (L.)— THE KING-EIDER. 



Anas spectabilis Linnaeus, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 123 (1758 — Canada, 



Sweden). 



Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus), Yarrell, iv, p. 463 ; Saunders, p. 461. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Very rare vagrant. England. — 

 Three obtained Xorfolk, one Yorks., two (and others seen) Fame 

 Isles (Xorthumberland). Scotland. — Examples obtained and satis- 

 factority identified coast of Haddington, Firth of Forth, Fife (June, 

 1899), and Firth of Tav (several obtained winter 1879-80). Several 

 recorded Shetlands (last Feb., 1899, June 29, 1910), one Fair Isle 

 (1910) and several Orknej'S (last Feb., 1906). Recorded as seen off 

 Jura and Islay. Ireland. — Dublin (five), Down (two), Mayo (one), 

 and Rathlin Island (last Down, Nov., 1897). 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Northern )3ortion of Northern Hemi- 

 sphere, breeding on shores of Arctic Ocean (Greenland, Spitsbergen, 

 Novaya Zemlia and arctic Siberia and America) ; in winter 

 casually to France (Italy twice) and several parts of northern 

 Europe, in America rarely and accidentally to Georgia, California, 

 and Iowa. 



