STELLER'S DUCK. 



'T^HIS very beautiful bird is only found within our 

 limits, on the coasts and islands of Behring Sea; 

 it also breeds along the northern shores of Siberia, 

 and from there occasionally straggles into Russia and 

 northern Europe. About all we know of it is derived 

 from the accounts of the few naturalists who have visited 

 its habitat. Nelson says he found it rather numerous 

 in the quiet, sheltered bays and fjords of the Aleutian 

 Islands, where, however, it was very shy. The residents 

 told him the species was abundant in winter in the bays 

 not ice-bound, and many birds were killed for food. It is 

 found at Kadiak and Sauk Island, near the eastern end of 

 the Aleutian chain, on the Shumagin Group, and also in 

 great flocks on the north coast of the Alaskan Peninsula. 

 Dall found it associating with the King Eider in 

 winter. 



The mating season begins in May, and the nest is 

 placed between tussocks of grass and lined with the 

 same material, and concealed by long, overhanging 

 grasses. In the nest found there was a single egg, which 

 was a pale grayish green color. It is said that if a nest 

 is visited the bird will abandon it at once. 



This Duck seems to be irregular in its movements and 

 does not always appear at the same place at stated 

 periods. Thus in May, 1872, it was very abundant at 

 Unalaska together with the Pacific Eider, but in May, 

 1873, though the season was later, not a single member 

 of either species was seen. It breeds on St. Lawrence 

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