ANATIBM — FULIGULIN2E : SEA BUCKS. 709 



feathers. This is as in the scoters, (Edemia ; in both of which genera the particulars of the 1)ill 

 being specific and in a measure sexual characters, to found genera upon thein would be to insLkc 

 one for almost every species. Nevertheless, I am now satisfied that I have gone too far in uniting 

 Heniconetta and Arctonetta with Somateria. The subgeueric rank accorded to these in the 

 following analysis is to bo considered as generic; and among the eiders proper I would now 

 separate the king eider subgenerically, under the name of Erionetta, from Somateria jn'oper. Tlie 

 characters are given below. In the whole group hero presented under the name of Somateria, 

 some further characters may be noted as follows : Nostrils averaging median, variable in posi- 

 titm ; feathers reaching over, under, or not to them. Frontal angles of bill in one sj.'ecies as 

 nornuiUy in FuligulincB, in others variously exaggerated. Nail of bill large, fused, forming the 

 whole tip. Inner secondaries and scapulars sickle-shaped, curved outward and falling ob- 

 liquely over the wing. Sexes very uulike. ^ chiefly black and white, with sea-greeu on the 

 head ; feathers of head in part sliort, cLise-set, and erect, like pile of velvet, in part usually 

 stiffish and b'ustly. Several remarkable species, of the Northern Hemispihere. 



Anal/jsis of {Genera), Subgenera, Species, avif Varieties. 



cf ? Dill not gibbous, without frontal processes, not feathered to the nostrils, its cutting eilge dilated 

 and leathery ; no unusual shape or outline of frontal feathers. (Heniconetta.) 



A violet speculum stelleri 73i 



(J 9 Bill not gibbous, without frontal processes, feathered on culmen to a point beyond nostrils, and 

 thence in lino sweeping behind nostrils to angle of mouth. (Arctonktta.) 



No speculum ; an elevated roundish white black-bordered area about eye flselien 732 



g Bill gibbous at base of upper mandible; outline of culmen variously curved; with long, acute or 

 clubbed, tumid process extending in line with culmen on each side of forehead, divided by extension of 

 feathers on culmen ; feathers of side of bill advancing to about under nostrils, far beyond those on 

 culmen. No speculum. (Somateria proper.) 

 (f No black V-mark on chin. 



Frontal processes short, narrow, acute, parallel. Smaller moUissima 733 



Frontal processes long, broail, clubbed, divergent. Larger dresseri 731 



ff A black V-mark on chin v-nieirum 73-;i 



cT Bill extremely gibbous at base of upper mandible, witli broad squarish nearly vertical frontal processes 

 bulging angularly out of line of culmen, on each side of forehead, divided by extreme projection of 

 feathers on culmen far beyond those on sides of mandible, which do not nearly reach nostrils. 

 (Ekionetta N.) 



J X black V-mark on cliin spectahilis 730 



(Heniconetta.) 

 731. S. (H.) stel'leri. (To G. W. Steller.) Steller's Eider. Adult $ : Bill and feet dull 

 grayish-Idue, the webs rather darker; iris brown. Top and sides of head and collar on 

 neck silvery-white, washed across forehead and hind-head with sea-green, the chin with a 

 black patch narrowing to run down breaking through the white coUar and continuous with 

 a broad black ring around neck; a similar patch around eye, these black areas with various 

 lustre. Upper parts at large glossy purpUsh-blue-black; wing-coverts white; secondaries 

 vi(.ilet in their exposed portions, tipped with white, the rest, and the tertials and outer 

 scapulars, sUvery- white, the inner scapulars violet, striped with white edges ; liniui; of winos 

 mostly, and axiUars, white. Under parts dull chestnut-brown, passing to sooty bhick on the 

 belly and erissum, with an isolated black spot on each side of the breast. The young <J closely 

 resembles the ? . In both sexes the bill and feet are of an undefinable dark cofor in dried 

 specimens. ? differs as in all the eiders: dark reddish-brown, blackening on belly and eris- 

 sum, much mottled and barred with black; no white except on lining of wings and tips <jf 

 greater coverts and of secondaries, these forming two white bars enclosing the imperfect spec 

 ulum. Length 18.00-19.00; wing 8.00-8.50; tail 3.50; bill 1.50 along culmen, 1 75 alon. 

 ; tarsus 1.25; middle toe and claw 2.20. Northern redons of Eiirone A.i,, a..t v ^ 



gape ; tarsus i.2D ; middle toe and claw 2.20. Northern regions of Europe, Asia and ^Y 

 America; not yet common in coUections, though abounding and sometimes gathering in enor 

 mous flocks on the islands and both shores of Behrimi's Sea and the Arctic coast "of N E 



