108 THE BIRDS OF MAINE 



in a nest which was a mere hollow in a tuft of Carcx, and the 

 eggs were very warmly enveloped in down. These eggs meas- 

 ure 2.97 X 2.00, 2.73 x 1.93, 3.09 x 2.00, 3.20 x 2.00. 



In many localities the Eiders nest in large colonies, being 

 almost semi-domesticated. The down is regularly gathered 

 as an article of commerce by the Greenlanders and Icelanders, 

 while the eggs are also locally used for culinary purposes. 

 The males are said to separate from the females and young as 

 soon as the breeding season is over and to congregate by them- 

 selves in large flocks (Kumlien). 



160. Soniateria dresseri Sharpe. American Eider; Eider 

 Duck; Sea Duck. 



Plumage of adult and immature birds is practically identical with the 

 plumages described under Northern Eider ; the chief, and in fact only real 

 reliable means of distinguishing the two species is the difference in shape of 

 the V-shaped angles made by the bare space on the top of the bill, these 

 being very hroad with rounded angles in this species. Wing 10.50 to 11.50 ; 

 culmen 2.15 ; tarsus 1.80. 



Geog. Dist. — Atlantic coast of North America, nesting from Jericho Bay, 

 Maine, to Labrador ; in winter south to Delaware and west to the Great 

 Lakes. 



County Records. — Cumberland; common in winter, (Lord). Hancock; 

 at present probably not exceeding seven or eight pairs of birds nest on the 

 various small islands between Isle au Haut and Little Duck, though in winter 

 resident, (Knight). Knox ; winter bird, (Rackliff.) Sagadahoc ; common 

 in winter, (Spinney). Waldo; the species is still found in winter and not 

 rare, (Knight). Washington; abundant in winter, (Boardman); Old Man 

 Island, off the coast of this county, has recently been leased by the Audubon 

 Society to be kept as a preserve for nesting seafowl, and this island is 

 reported to be the breeding place of several pair of Eiders as well as of other 

 seafowl. 



It is very probable that not more than twenty pair of these 



birds still remain to nest along the entire eastern coast of 



Maine, though formerly many nested within the same limits. 



As a winter bird from November until April the species still 



occurs generally among the outer islands and along the coast. 



The nests are built on the ground among rocks or concealed 



under tufts of vegatation on various small rocky islands. 



