52 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the American Eider Duck. 



Fig. 1. Somateria molUssima. Fig. 2. S. Dresseri. 



colour, wliicli in S. moUissima is confined to the hinder por- 

 tion of tlie auricidar region and the nape, in S. Dresseri ex- 

 tends along the cheeks and on the occipital line of feathers 

 "which part the liinder portion of the crown. I have therefore 

 no hesitation in giving the American Eider a new name, and 

 propose to call it, after my excellent colleague in the ' Birds 

 of Lurope,' 



Somateria Dresseri, n. sp. 



cf . Similis S. malJissimo', sed conspioiio major ; gonis. rcgione pa- 

 rotica cum nucha et striga ocoipitali viridi clare lavatis ; rostro 

 robustioro, ccra lata nigosa. 



Loug. tot. 27, culm. 2, ala) 11-8, caudce 4-3, tarsi 1-35. 



