642 



14 



1. Head of Somateria mollissima. 



2. Head of Somateria dresseri*. 



The American Eider is altogether larger, and has the sickle-shaped secondaries much more 

 developed. The sea-green colour of the neck spreads over the cheeks, and even the nuchal line 

 is tinged with this colour ; but the most striking difference is in the bill, Avhich is deeper and has 

 the bare surface of the cere more rough and rugose than in the European species. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 



a, b. Aberdeenshire {W. C. Angus). 



a, b. Bodo, Norway (F. Godmari). 



E Mus. Salvin and Godman. 



E Mus. J. H. Gumey, jun. 



a. <3 . Stromness, April 11th, 1867 (/. H. G.). b. 8 (in change). Orkney, November 5th, 1870. c. $ . Ha- 

 roldswick, Shetland, June 20th, 1868 {Saxby). d. d juv. British Channel, January 7th, 1868. e. (young 

 in down). Lyra Bay, in Stromness, July 1867. 



* The description of this species was communicated by Sharpe to the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History' for July 1871. 



