36 Allen's naturalist's library. 



lores, and the green patch on the nape, serve to distinguish tlie 

 species. The female is very dark in colour, and shows chest- 

 nut mottlings on the upper back and again on the chest, the 

 breast and abdomen being black. 



Range in Great Britain. — Has only occurred twice within 

 British limits, one having been shot near Caistor in Norfolk 

 in February, 1830, while a second immature specimen was 

 procured off Filey Brigg in Yorkshire on the 15th of August, 

 1845. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Steller's Eider Duck breeds 

 plentifully along the arctic coast of Siberia east of the Taimyr 

 Peninsula, and is abundant in the Aleutian Islands. It has 

 also been found breeding on the Varanger Fjord in the north 

 of Norway and in Russian Finland. In winter it is not un- 

 common in the Baltic Sea, and has been obtained in Heli- 

 goland, Denmark, and off the coasts of Northern France. The 

 coasts and islands of Bering Sea, writes Mr. Nelson, "may 

 be given as the eastern range of this fine Duck. Westward of 

 these points it breeds in tens of thousands along the north 

 coast of Siberia." It also inhabits the Aleutian and Kurile 

 Islands in winter, frequenting the bays which are not ice- 

 bound, as well as the shores of Alaska, but the species has not 

 as yet been found breeding in the latter country. 



Habits. — Steller's Eider is a marine Duck, and feeds chiefly 

 on molluscs. It is said to be very shy, especially during the 

 breeding-season, and deserts its nest, if the latter be meddled 

 with. The note is said to be something like that of a Teal. 



Nest. — Cup-shaped, according to Von Middendorf, and 

 lined with down, and placed on moss on the flat tundra. Dall 

 found one in Unalaska, built between two tussocks of grass, 

 and the depression carefully lined with the same material. It 

 contained only one egg, and had not been lined with down ; it 

 was most carefully concealed by overhanging grasses. 



Eggs. — Seven to nine in number, of a pale greenish stone- 

 colour. Axis, 2*2 inches; diam., 1*55. 



Down. — Very dull chocolate-brown, with a small white *^ eye " 

 in the centre, the filamentous tips being also brown. . 



