Food. 
Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Male. 
344 NATATORES. SOMATERIA. Kine EmpER 
Memoir of the Birds of Greenland. Its habits are also akin 
to those of the other, and its food is of the same nature. 
The down of the King Eider is of equal fineness and elasti- 
city, and is collected by the natives indiscriminately with 
that of the preceding kind.—The nest is formed of alge, 
grass, moss, &c. according to what the locality may supply, 
and the eggs are in number from four to six, very similar in 
size and colour to those of its congener; and which, like 
them, are covered with the down plucked from the parent 
bird as incubation proceeds. From the figure given by 
Captain Saprne, of the lower part of the trachea of this 
species, it appears of similar formation to that of the Com- 
mon Eider; the tympanum being nearly of the same size, 
and of the same flattened globular shape. The bronchi are 
also much alike, that proceeding from the enlargement being 
of a greater diameter towards its centre, and both suddenly 
contracting where they join the lungs. The King Eider is 
supposed, and I believe correctly, to be the same length of 
time in attaining maturity as the other species. By the 
Greenlanders the flesh is much esteemed, and the gibbous 
part (or elevated plates) of the bill is considered a great de- 
licacy. The skins of these birds, sewed together, are formed 
into various comfortable articles of clothing. 
PiaTE 71. represents the Male and Female, rather below 
the natural size. 
Bill vermilion-red, with the nail flesh-red. The frontal 
plates of the bill, which are very large and perpendicu- 
lar, deep orange. Legs and toes ochreous-yellow, with 
the webs darker. Frontlet line that surrounds the 
frontal plates, under eyelid, and the figure hike a V on 
the throat, are deep velvet-black. Crown of the head, 
and nape of the neck, fine bluish-grey. Cheeks pistachio- 
green. ‘The superciliary line and breast pale ochreous- 
yellow. Mantle, lesser wing-coverts, and sides of the 
rump, white. Scapulars, greater coverts, curved tertials, 
