344 NATATORES. SOMATERIA. KING EIDER 



Memoir of the Birds of Greenland. Its habits are also akin 

 Food. to those of the other, and its food is of the same nature. 

 The down of the King Eider is of equal fineness and elasti- 

 city, and is collected by the natives indiscriminately with 

 Nest,&c. that of the preceding kind. The nest is formed of algae, 

 grass, moss, &c. according to what the locality may supply, 

 and the eggs are in number from four to six, very similar in 

 size and colour to those of its congener; and which, like 

 them, are covered with the down plucked from the parent 

 bird as incubation proceeds. From the figure given by 

 Captain SABINE, of the lower part of the trachea of this 

 species, it appears of similar formation to that of the Com- 

 mon Eider ; the tympanum being nearly of the same size, 

 and of the same flattened globular shape. The bronchi are 

 also much alike, that proceeding from the enlargement being 

 of a greater diameter towards its centre, and both suddenly 

 contracting where they join the lungs. The King Eider is 

 supposed, and I believe correctly, to be the same length of 

 time in attaining maturity as the other species. By the 

 Greenlanders the flesh is much esteemed, and the gibbous 

 part (or elevated plates) of the bill is considered a great de- 

 licacy. The skins of these birds, sewed together, are formed 

 into various comfortable articles of clothing. 



PLATE 71. represents the Male and Female, rather below 



the natural size. 



Bill vermilion-red, with the nail flesh-red. The frontal 

 General plates of the bill, which are very large and perpendicu- 



descrip- lar, deep orange. Legs and toes ochreous-yellow, with 



the webs darker. Frontlet line that surrounds the 

 Male. 



frontal plates, under eyelid, and the figure like a V on 



the throat, are deep velvet-black. Crown of the head, 

 and nape of the neck, fine bluish-grey. Cheeks pistachio- 

 green. The superciliary line and breast pale ochreous- 

 yellow. Mantle, lesser wing-coverts, and sides of the 

 rump, white. Scapulars, greater coverts, curved tertials, 



