{ 331 ) 



same color, and very broad. Length nineteen inches, wing nine. 

 Female smaller, and with the protruberance at the base much less ; 

 upper parts brownish-black ; lower parts lighter. 



This also is one of the "Coots." It passes its time at sea, and 

 subsists by fishing, frequently associating with the Velvet and Surf 

 Ducks. Like all other divers, it is often caught by becoming 

 entangled in the fishermen's nets. In the Eastern States, it is 

 known by the name of "Butter Bill." 



FULIGULA MOLLISSIMA— LINN. 



EIDER DUCK. ■ 



Anas mollissima, Wilson. 



Fuligula mollissima, Bonap. 



Somateria mollissima, Eider, Svv. & Rich. 



Eider Duck, Nuttall. 



Eider Duck, Fuligula mollissima, Audubon. 



Specific Character — Bill from the corner of the mouth to the end, 

 two inches and three quarters, extending high upon the forehead — 

 the frontal feathers advance on the ridge, giving it a forked appear- 

 ance ; bill strong at base, gradually tapering to the end ; the fea- 

 thers at the base of the bill extend on the sides of it to the nostrils ; 

 secondaries long, curving over the primaries. Adult male with the 

 sides of the head and crown white; a broad band of bluish-black 

 over the eye ; occiput, upper portion of the hind neck, and sides of 

 the neck, pale green ; upper part of the fore neck white, lower neck 

 and upper part of the breast buff or cream color, lower parts 

 black ; tail blackish-brown ; upper tail coverts and central part of 

 the rump black, sides of the latter white, the feathers long, extend- 

 ing nearly to the lower tail coverts, forming a large patch at the 

 base of the tail ; back, scapulars, and small wing coverts, white ; 

 primaries brown—outer secondaries dark brown glossed 

 with blue ; large portion of the inner vanes white ; inner secon- 

 daries white, curving over the primaries. Length twenty-five 

 inches, wing eleven and a half. 



