ANATID^E THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 177 



8, dresseri Adult male with lobo or angle of bill broad and rounded at posterior ex- 

 tremity, its length, from anterior extremity of loral feathering, 1.75-2.00; width across 

 middle, not less than .45; black of head bordered below by pale green for nearly the whole 

 length; female with angle of bill about 1.87x.22, depth of upper mandible at base .78. 



The third American species, the Pacific Eider (S. iwiigra) is 

 a larger and finer bird than either of the eastern species. It 

 resembles them in color but has a large V-shaped black mark 

 on the throat and a bright orange-colored bill. It inhabits the 

 northwestern Darts of the continent, as well as northeastern 

 Asia. 



Somateria dresseri Sharpe. 



AMERICAN EIDER, 



Popular synonyms. Wamp (Connecticut); Squam Duck (Maine); Big Bea Duck (Lone 



Island). 



Anas mollissima WILS. Am. Orn. viii, 1814, 122, pL 71 (nee LINN.). 

 Fuligula (Somateria) mollissima NUTT. Man. ii, 1834, 407. 

 Fuliaula mollissima AUD. Orn. Biog. iii, 1835, 344; v, 1839, 611, pi. 246; Synop. 1839,291; 



B. Am. vi. 1843, 349. pL 405. 

 Somateria mollissima BONAP. Comp. List, 1838, 57 (part). BAIED, B. N. Am. 1858, 809; 



Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 606. COUES. Key. 1872, 293; Check List, 1873, No. 513. 

 Somateria dresseri SHABPE, Ann. Mag. N. H. July. 1871. 51. flgs. 1.2. B. B. & R. Water B. 

 N. Am. ii, 1884, 76. A. O. U. Check List. 1886, No. 160. Broow. Man. N. Am. B. 1887.110. 

 Somateria mollissima. var. (?) dresseri COUES, Birds N. W. 1874, 580. 

 Somateria mollissima dresseri KIDGW. Proc. U. 8. Nat Mus. iii, 1880, 205, 222; Nom. N. 

 Am. B. 1881, No. 627 a.-CouES, Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 734. 



HAB. American coasts of the North Atlantic, from Maine, Newfoundland, etc., to Lab- 

 rador; in winter, south to Long Island, Delaware, Ontario, Wisconsin, and northern Ohio 

 and Illinois. 



SP. CHAB. Adult male: Similar to 8. mollissima, but the "cere" very much broader 

 (.38 to .50 of an inch wide anteriorly), much corrugated, the posterior extremity broad 

 and rounded; green of the head rather more extended, usually following along under- 

 neath the black almost or quite to the bill "Bill pale grayish yellow, the unguis lighter, 

 the soft tumid part pale flesh-color; iris brown; feet dingy light green, the webs dusky" 

 (AuouBON). Adult female: Scarcely distinguishable from that of S. mollissima, but basal 

 angles of the maxilla deeper and broader. "Bill pale grayish green; iris and feet as in 

 the male" (AUDUBON)*. Downy young: Not distinguishable from that of S. mollissimad). 



Total length, about 24.00 to 26.00 inches; extent, 39.00 to 42.00; wing. 11.15-11.50; culmen, 

 1.95-2.40; from tip of bill to end of basal angle, 2.75-3.35; greatest width of angle, .38-.50; 

 tarsus, 2.00-2JJO; middle toe, 2^0-2.70 (six examples). 



Though nearly related to the true Eider of Europe (S. mollis- 

 sima), the American Eider is clearly distinct. Its habits, how- 

 ever, are much the same. 



Therfresh color of an adult male received at the National Museum from Wood's Holl, 

 Massachusetts, February 24, 1888, were as follows : Lobes of bill, as far as the nostrils, dull 

 clay- yellowish, lighter and more tinged with olive along lower edge ; nails of bill dull 

 grayish greenish white; rest of bill horn-grayish; feet light yellowish olive, the webs 

 grayish dusky. 



23 



