52 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the American Eider Duck. 



Fig. 1. Somateria mollissima. 



Fig. 2. ^S*. Dresseri. 



colour, which in 8. mollissima is confined to the hinder por- 

 tion of the auricular region and the nape, in 8. Dresseri ex- 

 tends along the cheeks and on the occipital line of feathers 

 which part the hinder portion of the crown. I have therefore 

 no hesitation in giving the American Eider a new name, and 

 propose to call it, after vaj excellent colleague in the ' Birds 

 of Europe,' 



Somateria Dresseri^ n. sp. 



<J . Similis S. mollissim.ce, sed eonspicue major ; genis, regione pa- 

 rotica cum nucha et striga occipitali viridi clare lavatis ; rostro 

 robustiore, cera lata rugosa. 



Long. tot. 27, culm. 2, alse 11*8, caudae 4-3, tarsi 1'35. 



