100 



KING EIDER 

 162. Somateria spectabilis. 23 in. 



The feathers of the sides of the bill of this specie- 

 do not reach to the nostril, while in the two preceding 

 ones, they do. This is the chief point of differenee in 

 distinguishing the females, which very closely resemble 

 each other. Adult males, as can l>e seen, are very dif- 

 ferent from the other Eiders. As is usual with the 

 Eiders, the male of this species moirtts to a plumage 

 resembling that of the female, during the late summer, 

 when he has shed his wing feathers and is. for a period 

 flightless, This is a part of Nature's plan to give her 

 feathered children protection when they most need it. 

 While the females are sitting upon the eggs, they are 

 deserted by the males, which congregate in large flocks, 

 and drift aimlessly about until joined by the females 

 in Fall. 



Nest. A depression in the ground, lined with feath- 

 ers. Eggs like those of the last species. 



Range. Breeds from northern Labrador and the Aleu- 

 tian Islands, Alaska, northward; winters south to Maine 

 and casually to Long Island Sound. 



