DUCKS 85 



Bird. Length 18 J in. The drake is recognised by the round 

 white spot in front of each eye, conspicuous 

 between the bluish-black beak and the 

 glossy greenish-black of the head ; by 

 the large white areas on the scapulars, 

 the wing-coverts and secondaries, the 

 white under-parts and black back. A 

 short crest. The male in "eclipse" 

 (July-October) resembles the female, but Fig. 99. 



is readily distinguished by the remains of 



white on the head. The duck has the head umber-brown, 

 without the white spot, the back, breast, and flanks greyish- 

 brown or greyish, mixed with darker grey. Rest of under- 

 parts white. Less white on the wings than the drake, and 

 this divided by two black stripes instead of one, as in his 

 case. The young resemble the female. 



171. Longtailed-duck [Harelda hyemalis (Linnseus) ; Har- 

 elda glacialis (Linnseus)]. Winter visitor, chiefly to our E. 

 coasts, more rarely inland waters. Appears to breed occasion- 

 ally on the Shetlands and Orkneys. 



Bird. Length 22-26 in. The sexes differ conspicuously. 

 The drake in winter and summer has the 

 central tail-feathers long, slender, and 

 black, the outer and shorter being white. 

 Beak blackish, middle portion rose-colour 

 (when fresh, according to H. Saunders). 

 In winter the head and neck are more or 

 less white or greyish with a large patch 

 of dark brown shading below into paler 

 brown (see Fig. 100). The back to the tail, the breast, 

 wing-coverts, and quills dusky brown or blackish. The long 

 scapulars, inner secondaries, belly, and flanks mostly white. 

 In the summer plumage, which is completed in May, the 

 cheeks are whitish or buffish-white, the rest of the upper-parts 

 and the breast blackish-brown, with rufous margins on the 

 back and scapulars, the latter not long and white as in 

 winter. Flanks and belly white. The female lacks the long 

 tail-feathers and the long white scapulars. All the upper- 

 parts are brownish, except a ring round the base of the neck 

 and the sides of the head, which are greyish-white. Fore- 

 breast rust brown, rest of under-parts pale brown. The young 

 are much like the duck. 



172. Common-eider [Somateria wwllissima vwllissima, 

 (Linnaeus)]. Breeds on our coasts and marine islands from 

 Northumberland and Kirkcudbright northwards ; also winter 

 visitor to same. Elsewhere occasional. Has bred Ireland. 



