EIDER DUCK. 4.1 
the head is white, with the exception on the sides of two 
light green marks. The feathers which compose this are of 
a fine and silky texture, and capable of being raised so as 
to form a sort of ruff. Neck in front, above white, below 
pale buff; below the nape the feathers are pale green. Chin 
and throat, white; breast above, white, with a tinge of 
brownish yellow, below black, with the exception of one 
white patch above and behind the legs. Back, white. 
The wings expand to the width of about three feet; greater 
and lesser wing coverts, white; primaries, dull black; secondaries, 
dull black; tertiaries, white and elongated, drooping downwards, 
the tips black. Tail, dusky greyish black; upper tail coverts, 
black. Legs and toes, dull greenish yellow; webs, dusky black. 
The female is of a pale brown colour, with a reddish tinge, 
and mottled with marks of darker brown. Weight, between 
five and six pounds; bill, deep greenish grey. Head, crown, 
neck on the back, and nape, light reddish brown, streaked 
with dusky. Chin, throat, and breast above, reddish brown, 
barred with blackish, the latter is dark brown below with 
dull transverse black bars. Back, reddish brown, barred with 
black and grey. 
The wings are crossed with two faint white bars; greater 
and lesser wing coverts, black, edged with brown; primaries, 
dull black. Tail, dull black; legs and toes, deep greenish grey. 
The young male at first resembles the female. In changing 
their garb the first winter, Yarrell describes them as having 
the bill greenish grey; head and neck mottled with two 
shades of dark brown, with a few white feathers appearing 
in different parts; the lower portion of the neck and the 
upper part of the back mottled black and white, the wing 
coverts and tertiaries becoming white, the rest of the plumage 
black; the legs greenish. grey. 
Montagu says that these birds do not arrive at maturity, 
and assume the pure white colour, till the third or perhaps 
the fourth year. Mr. Selby also assigns the latter period. 
In the first year the back is white, and the parts that 
are usually so, except part of the crown and sides of the 
head, and the lower part of the neck and breast, black. 
In the second year the crown of the head is black, and 
the neck and breast spotted with black and white. 
In the third year they have a piebald appearance, the conse- 
quence of the assumption of white on the back and seapulars. 
By the fourth year the adult garb is acquired. 
Other varieties have also been observed. 
