206 DUCK SHOOTING. 



which is yellowish- white. The legs and feet are brown- 

 ish-orange. 



The female is pale brown on the head and neck, dark- 

 est on the crown, streaked everywhere with blackish. 

 The upper parts are reddish, barred with black. The 

 length is about 22 inches. 



This eider is the common Pacific coast form, found 

 in the North Pacific, Bering Sea and on the coast of 

 Siberia. It is scarcely, or not at all, known south of 

 Alaska. In the Arctic Ocean it is found as far east as 

 the Coppermine River. It breeds throughout much of 

 this range, not only in Alaska, but on the shores of the 

 Arctic Ocean. The nests are variously placed, some- 

 times at quite a distance from the water ; at others, close 

 to it. They are sometimes on little islands, and are 

 abundantly provided with down. In Alaska the breed- 

 ing ground is often in the marsh and sometimes the 

 place chosen is close to human habitation. The male is 

 reported as assisting in building the nest and as con- 

 stantly associating with the female during the time of 

 incubation, though he himself takes no share in that 

 labor. The food of this eider is generally mussels and 

 shell-fish, which it brings up from the deep water. 



When the young are hatched, early in July, the old 

 birds begin to molt. The natives pursue the ducks in 

 their canoes, striking at them with their spears. It is 

 said that they do not kill many. Like the other eiders 

 already spoken of, the fall plumage of the male is 

 closely like that of the female, and we are told that the 

 young males only attain their full adult breeding dress 



