ce | Norton, A Noteworthy Plumage of the American Eider. 303 
The present new species is here described through the kindness 
of Dr. C. Hart Merriam. The writer is also indebted to Dr. J. A, 
Allen for the use of material in the American Museum of Natural 
History; to Mr. Robert Ridgway for a similar courtesy with regard 
to the National collection; and to Mr. William Brewster for the 
loan of specimens of Awpidonax cineritius. 
A NOTEWORTHY PLUMAGE OBSERVED IN THE 
AMERICAN EIDER DRAKE (SOMATZTERIA 
DRESSER). 
BY ARTHUR H. NORTON. . 
IN THE ornithological literature there has appeared from time 
to time, notes reporting the occurrence of the Pacific Eider drake 
in Atlantic districts of North America. These reports have been 
based on Eiders having a black V-shaped figure on the throat, a 
character commonly used, in connection with a white mantle, as 
diagnostic of Somateria v-nigra. 
Such records have been questioned, but apparently a final 
decision has been deferred. ‘Therefore the belief is entertained 
that a description of certain specimens of Somateria dresseri, taken 
an the east coast of the United States, is of sufficient interest to 
warrant its appearance here. 
The present data clearly show that the black lancet isa character 
of frequent occurrence in the young drakes of S. dresseri; and 
there are strong reasons for the belief that it occurs in S. modlissima 
borealis. (See Hagerup, Bds. of Greenland, p. 42.) 
During the winter of 1891, I received in the flesh, from 
Penobscot Bay, Me., a specimen of S. dresseri, showing marks of 
immaturity and having a distinct dusky or. black lancet on the 
throat. It being unique in my experience, I wrote to the collector 
to send any other specimens having black on the throat, with the 
