EIDER PUCK. 



the head is white, with the exception on the sides of two 

 light green marks. The feathers which compose this are of 

 a fine and silky texture, and capable of being raised so as 

 to form a sort of ruff. Neck in front, above white, below 

 pale buff; below the nape the feathers are pale green. Chin 

 and throat, white; breast above, white, with a tinge of 

 brownish yellow, below black, with the exception of one 

 white patch above and behind the legs. Back, white. 



The wings expand to the width of about three feet; greater 

 and lesser wing coverts, white; primaries, dull black; secondaries, 

 dull black; tertiaries, white and elongated, drooping downwards, 

 the tips black. Tail, dusky greyish black; upper tail coverts, 

 black. Legs and toes, dull greenish yellow; webs, dusky black. 



The female is of a pale brown colour, with a reddish tinge, 

 and mottled with marks of darker brown. Weight, between 

 five and six pounds; bill, deep greenish grey. Head, crown, 

 neck on the back, and nape, light reddish brown, streaked 

 with dusky. Chin, throat, and breast above, reddish brown, 

 barred with blackish, the latter is dark brown below with 

 dull transverse black bars. Back, reddish brown, barred with 

 black and grey. 



The wings are crossed with two faint white bars; greater 

 and lesser wing coverts, black, edged with brown; primaries, 

 dull black. Tail, dull black; legs and toes, deep greenish grey. 



The young male at first resembles the female. In changing 

 their garb the first winter, Yarrell describes them as having 

 the bill greenish grey; head and neck mottled with two 

 shades of dark brown, with a few white feathers appearing 

 in different parts; the lower portion of the neck and the 

 upper part of the back mottled black and white, the wing 

 coverts and tertiaries becoming white, the rest of the plumage 

 black; the legs greenish grey. 



Montagu says that these birds do not arrive at maturity, 

 and assume the pure white colour, till the third or perhaps 

 the fourth year. Mr. Selby also assigns the latter period. 



In the first year the back is white, and the parts that 

 are usually so, except part of the crown and sides of the 

 head, and the lower part of the neck and breast, black. 



In the second year the crown of the head is black, and 

 the neck and breast spotted with black and white. 



In the third year they have a piebald appearance, the conse- 

 quence of the assumption of white on the back and scapulars. 



By the fourth year the adult garb is acquired. 



Other varieties have also been observed. 



