168 COMMON EIDER. 



have been by different authors applied to it. Enico 

 netta, Gray; polysticta, Eyton ; Macropus, Nuttal ; 

 and Stelleria^ Bonaparte. 



SOMATERIA, Leach. Generic characters. Bill 

 narrow, swollen at the base and running high 

 into the plumage of the head, being divided on 

 the forehead by an acute angle of feathers, nail 

 large and strong, hooked, lamellce dentate, con- 

 cealed ; nostrils lateral, oval ; wings of mean 

 length, accummated, first quill slightly longest, 

 tertials long, curved ; legs placed behind, short, 

 feet ample, hallux broadly lobed. 



Types. S. mollissima^ spectalilis, &c. 



Note. Habits maritime ; long in attaining adult 

 plumage; females separate from males after 

 incubation. Europe, America. 



THE COMMON EIDER. 



Somateria mollissima. 

 PLATE VII. 



Anas mollissima, Linn Somateria mollissima, Leach., Flem., 

 &c. The Eider, or St. Cuthbert's Duck of British au- 

 thors. 



THIS gaily-plumaged, but rather clumsily-formed 

 duck, is a good example of the genus. It is com- 

 pletely maritime in habits, frequenting the sea-coasts 



