THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 537 



nesting, I myself having stood by the nest of a brooding female on 

 the 6th of June 1874. 



340. King Eider [PRACHTENTE]. 

 ANAS SPECTABILIS, Linn. 1 



Anas spectabilis. Naumann, xii. 285. 



King Eider. Dresser, vi. 643. 



Canard a tete grise. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 851, iv. 541. 



This bird has only been seen and killed once during all the 

 time I have been observing on the island. The one in question 

 was a young male shot on the llth of January 1879. In this 

 example the brown colour of the early plumage was about to 

 undergo the change to the succeeding marking. On the upper 

 breast the reddish chamois tint was beginning to supplant the 

 brownish colour ; white feathers, with their markings still imper- 

 fect, were displayed on the scapular portions of the wings and at 

 the sides of the vent, while on the flanks the black colour of the 

 succeeding plumage had already made considerable advance. 



It belongs as a breeding species to the highest Arctic countries 

 of both hemispheres. Captain Feilden found its nests at Floeberg- 

 Beach in 82 27' N. latitude; von Middendorff in the Taimyr 

 Peninsula in 74 N. latitude; Dr. Bunge on the islands of New 

 Siberia ; and it has also been found nesting in Alaska. 



341. S teller's Duck [SCHECKENTE]. 

 ANAS DISPAR, Sparrmann. 2 



Anas dispar. Naumann, xii. 240. 



Stdler's Duck. Dresser, vi. 649. 



Canard de Stdler. Temminck, Manuel, vi. 547. 



I obtained three young grey birds of this species in the whiter 

 of 1844-45 ; I presented them to Herr von Zittwitz, and they have 

 probably, with the rest of his beautiful collection, passed over into 

 the possession of the town of Gorlitz. On the llth of February 

 1855, 1 obtained a youngish male in the interesting stage of transi- 

 tion to the light-coloured plumage. The tuft or crest on the occiput 

 is already considerably advanced both in form and in the colour of 

 the feathers. This specimen represents the species in my collection. 



The breeding quarters of this beautiful bird are found on the 

 Arctic coasts of northern Asia. Von Middendorff collected the eggs 



1 Somateria spectabilis (Linn. ). 2 Somateria stdleri (Pall. ). 



