NATURAL HISTORY. xxxix 



westward of Lancaster Sound, and in Regent's Inlet, following the whale ships, and 

 availing themselves of the success of the fishermen, by feeding ofi' the carcase of the 

 whale after it has been deprived of its blubber and turned adrift. It is often of 

 essential service to those employed in the capture of the whale, by guiding them to 

 those places where the fish are most numerous, and by giving notice of the first appear- 

 ance of those animals at the surface of the water, by crowding to the spot from 

 all quarters. 



31.— SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS {King Duck). 



SOMATERIA SPECTABILIS.— RicA ; Faun. Bor. Amer.—\o\. ii., p. 447. 

 ANASSPECTABILIS.— lemm.— vol.ii., p.851. Gme/.— vol. i., p. 507. Lath: Jkc/. Orn.— vol. ii., p. 845. 

 Fab: Faun. Grcenl. — p. 63. Sab: in Trans. Linn. Soc. — vol.xii., p. 553. 

 Sab: Supp. to Parry's ist Voyage — p, ccvii. Rich: App. to Parry's 2d 

 Voyage — p. 371. Ross, App. to Parry's 3d Voyage — p. 106. 

 KING DUCK.— Penn. Bnf.Zoo/.— vol. ii.,p.246. .^rcf.Zoo/.— vol. ii., p. 554. Lath: Syn.—vo\.vi.,p.i73. 



Vast numbers of this beautiful duck resort annually to the shores and islands of the 

 Artie Regions in the breeding season, and have on many occasions afforded a valuable 

 and salutary supply of fresh provision to the crews of the vessels employed on 

 those seas. On our late voyage, comparatively few were obtained, although seen 

 in very great numbers. They do not retire far to the south during the winter, but 

 assemble in large flocks; the males by themselves, and the females with their young 

 brood, are often met with in the Atlantic Ocean, far distant from any land, where the 

 numerous crustaceous and other marine animals afford them abundance of food. 



32.— SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA (Eider Duck). 



SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA.— RicA ; Faun. Bor. Amer.—yo\. ii., p. 44. 

 ANAS MOLLISSIMA.— remm.— vol. ii., p. 848. Gmel.— vol i., p. 514. Lath : Ind. Orn.— vol. ii. p. 84.V 

 Fab : Faun. Grwnl.—'p. 08. Sab : Supp. to Parry's ist Voyage— p. ccviii. 

 Rich : App. to Parry's 2d Voyage— -p. 370. Ross, App. to Parry's id Voyage— 

 p. 106 ; and Polar Voyage — p. 197. 

 EIDER DUCK.— Penn : Brit. Zool.—vo\. ii.,p. 243. Arct. Zool.—\o\. ii., p. 553. 

 Lath: Syn. — vol.vi., p. 479. 



