364 



THE EIDER DUCK. 



BRENT GOOSE. 



well as in Scotland, where they remain until spring. In America, 

 though they visit in the course of their migrations, most of the 

 Northern and Middle States, they proceed still farther south, to 

 spend the winter, being seen on the Mississippi nearly to New 

 Orleans. They retire from their natal regions in the north in 

 September ; and early in October are seen to arrive in great 

 numbers about Ipswich, Cape Ann, and Cape Cod in Massachusetts, 

 continuing to come till the month of November, and generally 

 appearing in great numbers after the occurrence of an eastwardly 

 storm. In hazy weather they also fly low and diverge into the bays 

 and inlets. Many of these wandering flocks pass on to the south almost 

 without any delay, usually in marshalled and angular lines, but some- 

 times in a confused gang, loudly gabbling as they proceed. Thnr 

 atay here is commonly so short that it is necessary to ambuscade in 

 huts on their route in order to obtain them. 



THE EIDER DUCK. 



This species is about twice the size of the common Duck. Its bill 

 is black, an,d the feathers of the forehead and cheeks advance far into 

 the base. In the male, the feathers of part of the head, of the lower 

 part of the breast, the belly, and the tail, are black, as are also the 

 }uill-feathers of the wings ; and nearly all the rest of the body is white. 

 The legs are green. The female is of a reddish brown color, variously 

 marked with black and dusky streaks. The Eider Duck is principally 



