THE SURF DUCK. 611 



this down may be crowded into a ball no larger than one's fist, yet is afterwards so dilatable 

 as to fill a quilt of five feet square. This Duck reaches the farthest limits of the north yet 

 known." The most southern limit is said to have been the rocks about Portland harbor, 

 Maine. 



The Eider is a large bird for a Duck, being stouter than some geese. Its length is two feet 

 three inches, and extent of wings three feet. Its weight is from six to seven pounds. Its 

 flesh is not esteemed, as it is always fishy in flavor. 



As late as 1877 two Eiders were shot in Long Island Sound. 



In Wilson's time the Eiders bred from Boston to Bay of Fundy. " In the latter part of 

 the fall of 1833 they were seen in considerable numbers in Boston Bay." — Audubon. The latter 

 author vouches for the fact that the young Eiders are sometimes taken by the bill of the old 

 one and transported to the sea, some little distance from the nest. 



The King Eider (Somaterla spectdbilis) inhabits the northern portions of America and 

 Europe, chiefly coastwise. It reaches New Jersey southward, and in the interior to Lake 

 Erie. Its high and richly orange-colored upper bill gives this bird a strong, distinctive mark. 

 The female is plain entirely, like the female of the preceding, but smaller. About the first of 

 this century this bird was abundant in Massachusetts Bay, and bred along the New England 

 coast. The King Duck, as this is called; is regarded as equally valuable for its down. Geraud, 

 in his "Birds of Long Island," states that the young of this bird, during winter, are occasion- 

 ally seen at Egg Harbor, as well as on the shores of Long Island, and that an adult male was 

 shot in Long Island Sound in 1839. 



This rare bird is about the size of the common Eider, and is notable for its black and 

 white body, and the light-red beak and legs. 



Pacific Eider (8om</ft j ritr. t\ nigra) is much like the latter, but has the V-shaped mark 

 in black under the chin. 



Spectacled Eider {Lampronetta jiscJieri). This is known only on the northwest coast. 

 It has a broad, white space around the eye, resembling in texture cut velvet ; this is surrounded 

 by a ring of black, which aids in giving an aspect of being spectacled. This is a very inter- 

 esting species, and quite rare. 



American Scoter ((Edemia americcma), or Velvet Duck. It inhabits both the Atlantic 

 and Pacific coasts, and the great inland waters. It is a very beautiful bird; is jet-black in 

 plumage, velvety in appearance, and has a rich orange patch on the upper mandible of the bill. 

 The female is quite plain brown. In Audubon's day they were extremely abundant about 

 Boston, New York, and on the Jersey coast — less so southward. 



The American Velvet Scoter (Melanetta velvet ina) inhabits Europe and America, It is 

 mostly maritime, but visits the great lakes. This beautiful duck appears on the Chesapeake 

 with other species, and in considerable numbers in Audubon's day. We have seen a few 

 during the winter months on the coast around Massachusetts Bay, but it is now quite rare. It 

 is of a jet velvety black, with a large patch of white on its secondary feathers, and a patch of 

 white around the eyes. The bill has an orange and a lemon-colored portion. The female is 

 marked somewhat similarly, but in umber instead of black. 



This bird is called by the sportsmen of New England, White-winged Whistler, or White- 

 winged Coot. Its fiesh is not esteemed, being like that of many other maritime birds, fishy 

 and coarse. Geraud says it is " extremely abundant on the Long Island Sound during the 

 winter, arriving about the first of October." Ridgway, in the "Smithsonian Catalogue," 

 mentions two species — the present, and M. fusca. 



The Surf Duck (Pel/'onettaperspic/'llata). This is also called Coot. It inhabits North 

 America coastwise, and Jamaica. A variety is seen in California. Its plumage is black and 



