88 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS - ANSERES. 



Point, as he was walking along the sea-beach, a female of this si^ecies got up and 

 flew violently away to a short distance-, where she alighted on the ground. He at 

 once discovered her nest, which was a mere hole or depression in the ground, about 

 fifty yards from the beach, wholly composed of Eider down, and containing six 

 eggs. Other nests were found on the coast during several seasons, and also among 

 the islands of the Arctic Sea. All appear to have been similar to the one de- 

 scribed, and six is the largest number of eggs mentioned as having been foiuid in 

 any one nest. 



The eggs of this species are in color of a light shade of olive gray, some being 

 grayish green. They vary considerably in size, ranging from il.lO to 3.15 inches in 

 length, and from 1.75 to 2.05 in breadth. 





Genus (EDEMIA, Fleming. 



Oidemia, Fleming, Philos. Zool. II. 1822, 260 (tyix;, Aims nigra, Linn.). 



Char. Feathei's iit the base of the maxilla foi'iniiig a neiirly strai;.,'ht olilique line from the 

 forehciul back to tlie rictus, advancing scarcely, if at ail, on llie forehead ; l)ill very deep tlirougli 

 tile base, where sometimes elevated into a roundish knob, and miicii depressed toward tlie end. 

 No white whatever on the plumage. 



Two species only of this genus are known, one European, the other American. They are nnich 

 alii\e, but may be distinguished as follows : — 



Com. Chau. Entire plumage deep black, the bill partly orange, in the males ; dull grayisli 

 brown (lighter below), the bill wholly black, in the females. 



1. CB. nigra.' Bill black, the middle portion on top yellow or orange ; nail much di'i)rossed, 



scarcely iiooked ; base of the maxilla much swollen, entirely black. Wing, 800-9. 20 

 inches; culmen, 1.90 ; depth of maxilla at base, .98-l.(H», width, .85 ; tarsus, 1. 50-1. GO ; 

 middle toe, 2.50. Hah. Paliearctic Region. 



2. OJ. americana. Bill with the basal half of the maxilla, except a stripe along the toniium, 



yellow or orange, the terminal portion and tomial stn^e, only, ijbuk ; nail arched, 

 decidedly hooked ; base of the maxilla slightly or not at all swollen, entirely yellow, or 

 orange. Wing, 8.75-9.50 inches ; culmen, I.()5-I.8() ; de])th of maxilla at base, .85-.95, 

 width, .90-1.00; tarsus, 1.G3-2.0O ; middle toe, 2.50-2.80.2 Hah. Northeru North 

 America. 



• 05nEMIA NIOIIA. 



Aims nicjm, Linn. S. X. I. cd. 10, I. \7r>8, 123 ; ed. 12, 1766, 190. — Naum. Viig. Deutsdd. 



XII. 1844, 108, pi. 312. 

 Oulnnid nlijm, Fi.km. Phil, of Zool. 11. 1822, 260. — Bonap. Couip. List, 1838, 38. —Keys. & 



Bi.as. Will). Km-. 1840, 86. — Macoii.i,. Man. II. 181. 

 Faligula nigra, Xirrr. Man. II. 1832, 423 ("Coast of the United States"). 

 Aims afra, I'AM,. Zoogr. I!osso-As. II. 1826, 247. 



MclaniUa nigriprs, M. mrgauros, and M. gibbrni, IJitEU.M, ViJg. Deutscld. 1831, 901, 902. 

 Oidemia Icucmvphahi, Fl,KM. Brit. An. 1828 119. 

 Cuinimm Scoter, Yauh. Hiit. B. ed. 2, III. 317, tig. ; cd. 3, IV. 319, fig. 



* Only one adult male of (E. nigra is nc-ccssiblo to us for nicasurcniont, while of (E. americana wo have 

 measured eight examples ; a larger series of the former woulil of course alter the results given abovt! to 

 Rome extent, but would most likely verify the coustuncy of the dilfereucc! in proportions indicated by the 

 above figures. 



