THE KING EIDER 389 



of bright orange color, bounded by a jet black 

 edge. There is also a black mark like an in- 

 verted V beneath the chin, the ends running 

 down on each side of the throat. The plumes 

 of the wings (the drooping tertials) are purplish 

 black, wherein again he differs from the male 

 of the common species, and also in the peculiar 

 development of the outer two of these feathers, 

 whose outer edges are deeply notched and the 

 protruding point of the web stiffened to form a 

 feathery horn standing out from each wing. In 

 color he is mostly black ; the neck, upper breast 

 and linings of the wings with a spot on each 

 side of the rump are white. The white of the 

 breast is faintly tinged with cinnamon brown. 

 The top of the head and nape are grayish blue 

 or pearl gray, a very beautiful shade ; the sides 

 of the head tinged with pale sea green and the 

 feathers bristly and hairlike, giving the effect of 

 a piece of velvet. Iris brown. Bill and feet 

 of reddish hue. Length about twenty-two 

 inches; extent some twenty-eight inches. 

 Weight from four to five pounds. 



The female would scarcely be distinguished 

 from that of the common species, except that 

 her head and bill are proportionately shorter 



