208 ANAS MOLLISSIMA. 



the same brownish white, or pale reddish cream; ! 

 wing-coverts, brown a>h, ^router tipt with reddish 

 cream ; the first five secondaries deep velvety black, 

 the next five resplendent TC'II, forming the speculum 

 or beauty spot, which is bounded above by pale buff, 

 below by white, and on earn side by deep black; 

 primaries, ashy brown ; tail, pointed, eighteen feathers, 

 dark drab ; legs and feet, flesh coloured. In some a few 

 circular touches of white appear on the breast near the 

 shoulder of the wing. The windpipe has a small bony 

 labyrinth where it separates into the lungs; the intestines 

 measure three feet six inches, and are very small and 

 tender. 



The female wants the chestnut bay on the head, and 

 the band of rich green through the eye, these parts 

 being dusky white speckled with black ; the breast is 

 gray brown, thickly sprinkled with blackish, or dark 

 brown ; the back dark brown, waved with broad lines 

 of brownish white ; wing nearly the same as in the male. 



This species is said to breed at Hudson's Bay, and to 

 have from five to seven young at a time.* In France 

 it remains throughout the year, and builds in April, 

 among the rushes on the edges of ponds. It has been 

 lately discovered to breed also in England, in the mosses 

 about Carlisle. { It is not known to breed iu any part 

 of the United States. The teal is found in the north 

 of Europe as far as Iceland, and also inhabits the Caspian 

 Sea to the south. Extends likewise to China, having 

 been recognized by Latham among some fine drawings 

 of the birds of that country. 



SUBGKNUS III. FVLIOULA, BONAPARTE. 

 267. AXAS MOLLJSSIMA, LINNAEUS AND WILSON. EIDER DUCK. 



WILSON, PLATE LXXI. FIG. II MALE. 



EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THE eider duck has been long celebrated in Europe 

 for the abundance and excellence of its down, which, 

 * LATHAM. f BEWICK. 



