THE BIRDS OF GREENLAND. 51 



51. Northern Eider. (Somateria molUssima borealis.) 



A resident, breeding in very great numbers everywhere. 

 Eggs were found from June 6 to July 28. 



52. Pacific Eider. {Somateria v-nigra. ) 



HolboU sometimes obtained Eider Ducks of both sexes 

 which he believed to be a cross between S. molUssima and 

 S. gpeetabilis. "The bills of, the females- resembled those 

 of both species." He also obtained " males of S. molUssima, 

 having on the neck the lancet-shaped figure which distin- 

 guishes S. speetabilis." Tliey probably were S. v-nigra. 



[As there is no record of this species having been taken 

 farther to the eastward than Great Slave Lake, the in- 

 sertion of the name here is open to criticism. In my 

 opinion HolboU's supposition has more probability than 

 Mr. Hagerup's. — M. C] 



53. King Eider. {Somateria speetabilis.) 



Breeds sparingly between 67° and 73° ; but north of 73" 

 it is more numerous. lu winter it is very common in South 

 Greenland. Eggs laid from June 20 to July 1. 



In Benzon's Catalogue there is an entry of two nests with 

 eggs received from Julianeshaab, close to Greenland's south- 

 ern extremity, but probably the names molUssima and spec-r, 

 tabilis have become interchanged. 



[I think Benzon's note should not be thus discredited. 

 We might expect to find speetabilis breeding at Julianes- 

 haab, for nests have been taken much farther to the south- 

 ward. — M. C] 



54. Velvet Scoter. {Oidemia fusca.) 

 A chance visitor. 



