ANATINiE — TUE DUCKS — ENICONETTA. 



67 



U-ii. mostly dnsky. Young iimh: Similar to the atlult fumale, but Hpeculura lUisky grayish 

 lirowii, witli littlu, it' any, iimtalliu gloss, tbe tertials but slightly curved, uud with littlu ur no 

 white 



Total length, about 18.00 inches ; extent, 27.00 to 30.00; wing, 8.00-8.50 ; culuien, 1.40-1.45 ; 

 tiirsus, 1.50 ; middle toe, 1.95. 



A supposed young male I'rom Northern Europe (No. 57260) corresponds with the description 

 given above, e.xcept that the throat is black, the occipital feathers stiH'eued, while white feathers 

 !iin>t'ar on the sides of the breast. 



This species was first deseribed from specimens obtained by Steller in Kam- 

 tschatka, where it was said to breed ujjon rocks inaccessible to man. It appears to 

 In' most abundant in the northern portions of Western America and Eastern Asia, 

 and in the intermediate i.slands. It is of occasional or accidental occurrence in Great 

 liritain, where one was taken at Caistor, 

 Fell. 10, 1830, and another near Scarbor- 

 ough, Aug. 15, 1835. The former of these 

 was figured by Audubon. Three or four 

 were procured in Sweden, and anothcn- 

 in Denmark. Temminck states that this 

 Duck visits the eastern parts of Northern 

 Eurojie, and that it has occasionally wan- 

 dered into Germany. Professor Wasius 

 records the capture of one on the Island of 

 Heligoland. It is also given by Midden- 

 dorff as having been found by him in the 

 I5arrens of Northern Siberia. Mr. Wheel- 

 wright states that it appears to remain 

 ('■iring the whole year off Varanger Fiord, 

 near North Cajjc, where it most probably 

 breeds. It is only accidental in the other 

 parts of Scandinavia. A single specimen 

 was taken on the coast of France, between Calais and Bonlogne, in Fel)ruary, 1855. 



Mr. Robert CoUett writes to !Mr. Dresser that this Duck occurs annually on the 

 I>apland coast, wliere it is still to be seen during the summer, at the mouths of the 

 rivers, close to the sea, ft eding on shellfish. In the " Proceedings of the Zoological 

 Society " for 1861, Professor Newton figures an egg of this species, obtained by 

 JliddendorfE on the tundras of the Taimyr. On the 27th of June nests were found 

 containing from seven to nine newly laid eggs. Professor Newton also states that in 

 June and July, 1855, in East Finmark, he stvw several .small flocks of this species at 

 various places along the Varanger Fiord. Though he made tuiceasing in(piiries, he 

 could not ascertain that it breeds in any part of Norway, or in the adjoining districts 

 of Russia. In its habits it resembles the Common Eider. It was generally seen 

 swimming near the shore, or sitting, at low water, on the rocks covered by seaweed, 

 or flying near the surface from point to point. 



Since Professor Newton published tliis account, Mr. Schancke found Steller's 

 Duck breeding on the Varanger Fiord, and sent to the British Museum two of 

 its eggs witli the down from a nest taken near Vardii. Pastor Sommerfeldt states 

 that this species is found on the Varanger Fiord throughout the year, particularly 

 toward the spring; and he was informed that it breeds to the eastward in Russian 

 Finmark. 



Middendorff found it breed't-.T -mxA in abundance on the Taimyr River, although 



Female. 



