NATATORES — ANATIDiE — FULIGULA. 333 



blue, with a white medial line on the crown, passing into light green and white on the 

 hind head and sides of the neck. Upper part of the breast pale buff. Upper tail-coverts, 

 rump, tail and all beneath brownish black. Remainder of the back, scapulars, lesser coverts, 

 inner curved secondary quills, sides of the rump, and under wing-coverts white. A young 

 male, shot February 4, on Long island : Head light grey ferruginous or drab, extending half 

 way down the neck ; cheeks and sides of the neck darker ; an indistinct line half way down 

 the neck from the crown, with a few violet black feathers intermixed : eye-stripe lightish. 

 Chin, throat, upper part of the breast and sides of the rump white ; some of the feathers 

 tipped with brownish. Back, rump and wing-coverts dusky brown ; the feathers tipped with 

 greyish and dull ferruginous. Scapulars dusky, largely mixed with white. Primaries edged 

 with greyish. Upper and under tail-coverts black ; beneath dusky brown ; the feathers lightly 

 tipped with greyish and ferruginous. Bill and feet as in the old male. Female : Head and 

 neck reddish brown, minutely streaked with brownish black. Body reddish brown, barred 

 with black. Quills brownish black : greater coverts and secondaries tipped with white. 



Length, 24'0-25-0. 



The Eider Duck, so celebrated for the softness of its down, is an arctic bird, which, in 

 very severe winters, makes its appearance along the shores of this State. It is known on 

 Long island under the names of Black and White Coot, Big Sea Duck, and Shoal Duck. 

 On the shores of Maine, it is called Squaw Duck. During the winter of 1842, they were 

 abundant in the markets of New- York at $1 .25 per pair ; their flesh is, however, not highly 

 prized. Mr. Audubon suggests that they might be domesticated without much difficulty, and 

 it is highly desirable that the attempt should be made. It breeds from Maine northwardly, 

 and ranges from 39° to 81° north, although this State may now be considered as the limits 

 of its extreme southern range. Its eggs are from 6-10, of a pale olive-green. The Eider 

 Duck is common to Europe and America. 



