ANATIN^E — THE DUCKS — SOMATERIA. 87 



this species was seen in great numbers in the North Georgian Islands, the birds 

 having their nests on the ground in the neighborhood of fresh-water ponds, and feed- 

 ing on the aquatic vegetation. 



Sir James C. Ross, also, in the Appendix to his work, says in reference to this 

 species : " Vast numbers of this beautiful Duck resort annually to the shores and 

 islands of the Arctic Regions in the breeding-season, and have on many occasions 

 afforded a valuable and salutary supply of fresh provision to the crews of the ves- 

 sels 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 youug brood are often met with in the Atlantic Ocean, far distant from 

 any land, where the numerous crustaceans and other marine animals afford them 

 abundance of food." 



Mr. Dall found a single specimen of this species lying dead on the beach near the 

 Eapids on the Yukon. It is known to the Russians as the Pistrik. A series of eggs 

 from St. Michael's, of which the parent was not identified, appeared to belong to this 

 species. Mr. Bannister did not meet with it, and regards it as being extremely un- 

 common in that region. Mr. Dall afterward observed this species among the winter 

 Ducks., at Unalashka, where it was somewhat abundant; but he did not notice any in 

 the Shumagins. There seems to be no evidence of its occurrence on any portion of 

 tin' west of Oregon or California. 



Middendorff includes this species in his list of the birds found in the extreme 

 north of Siberia ; and Professor Newton states that it has been several times noticed 

 in Spitzbergen, as also by Loven in Ice Sound in 1857, by Sundevall in Bell Sound 

 the ensuing year, and by Nordenskjold, who killed two specimens on the northeast 

 coast in 1858 ; but the latter does not regard it as being of common occurrence, and 

 doubts if it breeds in that region. It has not been met with farther north than lat. 

 76 J 14'. Dr. Malmgren shot one out from a small flock early in July in Safe Haven. 

 Another flock was observed by him in August on Horn Sound Islands. In the South- 

 east Harbor, Bear Island, July 18, he also saw a very large flock, consisting of hun- 

 dreds of Ducks and young drakes, with only one or two old drakes among them ; but 

 they did not appear to have been breeding there. 



Mr. Gillett, in his account of the birds of Nova Zembla, mentions meeting with 

 this Duck in Matthews Strait on the 6th of August. There were several in a small 

 flock, all being apparently immature males ; but as their wings were entirely desti- 

 tute of quill-feathers, they could not fly, but could dive in a wonderful manner, so 

 that they could not be procured without great difficulty. Von Heuglin also met with 

 this species in the same locality. 



According to Yarrell, the King Duck is very rare on the British coast. Mr. Bul- 

 lock found it breeding on Papa Westray, one of the Orkney Islands, in the latter pari 

 of June. There were six eggs, covered with the down of the parent, the nest being 

 on a rock which overhung the sea. An egg in Yarrell's collection is described as 

 being 2.50 inches long by 1.75 wide, and of a pale green color. 



According to Vieillot, specimens of this bird have been taken in France. Pro- 

 fessor Nilsson states that it frequents the most northern parts of the Baltic, of 

 Denmark, and of Norway, and that a few breed in the Faroe Islands and in Iceland. 

 Some of these birds were seen by Audubon in his journey to Labrador ; but he did 

 not succeed in finding their nests. 



Mr. MacFarlane observed the King Duck breeding on the coast of the Arctic 

 Ocean, in the neighborhood of Franklin Bay ; and he writes that when on Island 



