MORE OF THE WILD DUCK FAMILY 251 



THE EIDER DUCK. 

 (Somaterta mollissima.) 



MALE. Frontal angles of bill narrow, fleshy, 

 and slightly elevated. The rough basal part of the 

 upper mandible is oil green, the rest bluish-grey, 

 with a tinge of green ; the nail yellowish-grey ; 

 iris deep brown. Head black above, with a middle 

 white band ; hind-part of cheeks and nape pale 

 green ; fore-neck cream-coloured. Hind-neck, back, 

 scapulars, smaller wing coverts, and inner secondary 

 quills white ; breast, sides, belly, and rump black ; 

 feet oil green ; membranes pale greenish-brown. 

 Length, from bill to end of tail, twenty-six inches. 



FEMALE. Head and neck pale reddish-brown, 

 streaked with dusky ; upper parts dark brown, 

 marked with light red ; lower parts reddish brown, 

 with dusky markings. Length, to end of tail, 

 twenty-four inches. 



