74 



as food; but the numbers have been so rapidly reduced by reckless killing 

 that only a small fraction of the original number remains. On these bleak 

 and desolate coasts where fresh meat is scarce the Eiders should be con- 

 served for food if for nothing else. An intelligent and far-seeing policy 

 would conserve the Eiders for all time to come, supply a liberal amount of 

 flesh food and eggs, and at the same time produce a crop of down worth in 

 the markets far more than the carcasses of the dead birds. 



So closely is this species related to the last that it would not be surpris- 

 ing were it eventually included together with the Northern Eider as a 

 subspecies. 



162. King Eider, king duck. fr. — l'bider kbmabquable. Somateria spec- 

 tahilis. L, 23. Male much like the preceding, but the back mostly black, cheeks nile- 

 green, top of head and hindneck light bluish-grey, and a black V on the throat; bUl is 

 distinctive, the bright yellow fleshy forehead processes almost meet on the forehead where 

 they widen out to nearly an inch across, forming a comparatively mountainous hump on 

 the forehead. Female is without the great bill process and is coloured in the same browns 

 and blacks in fine-barred pattern as are the other Eiders. 



Distinctions. Male with its bill processes cannot be mistaken for any other species. 

 Females resemble those of other Eiders but can be separated from two preceding species 

 by feathering of crown extending as far forward as rear of nostrils. 



Field Marks. Less amount of white on the back and bill processes of the male. 

 Females cannot with certainty be distinguished from the other Eiders in life. 



Nesting. On ground, nest lined with down. 



Distribution. The most northern of o\a Eiders. Noting across the continent along 

 the coast and islands of the Arctic. Wintering along the gulf of St. Lawrence and New 

 England shores. It is the only Eider that straggles in to the lower Great Lakes with any 

 regularity. 



163. American Scoter, black sea coot. fr. — la macbbuse d'am^rique. 

 Oidemia americana. L, 19. Male all black; base of biU much swollen near forehead and 

 bright yellow. Female without swollen bUl; dusky all over, hghter below and with evident 

 d arker cap contrasting jn a sharp line against lighter cheeks. 



Distinctions. Male is the only Canadian all black Duck unrelieved by any spot of 

 colour. Dark cap of female is distinctive against other comparable species. 



Field Marks. Evident blackness and yellow bill of male, and the lack of white spots 

 or facial marks and the dark cap on the female. 



Nesting. On ground, near water. 



Distribution. Breeds in the far north across the continent; common in winter on our 

 eastern coasts and not unusual on lower Great Lakes. 



165. White-winged Scoter, white-winged coot. pe. — la macbeusb vELOurfiB. 

 Oidemia deglandi. L, 22. Dark brown, almost black, with white wing patches and a 

 small white crescent under the eye; biU is swollen at the base rising more abruptly forward 

 than shown in Figure 9, p. 19, and the upper mandible is coloured with bright red and 

 white. Female even duU brown. 



Distinctions. White wing patch is distinctive of any plumage of this species. 

 Field Marks. Large size, general and even darkness, and white wing patches. 

 Nesting. On ground, under or among bushes. 



Distribution. Breeds in the higher latitudes across the continent; abundant on the 

 coast in migration and is the commonest Scoter on the Great Lakes and in the interior. 



166. Surf Scoter, butteb-bill coot, bottle-nosed diver, fb. — la ma~ 

 CREUSE X large BBC. Oidemia perspicillata. L, 20. Male all black with white patch 

 across forehead and a triangle of same colour at base of head; bill greatly swollen (Figure 

 9, p. 19) and coloured most strikingly with reds, yellow, and black. Female dull brown, 

 hghter below and much hke that of American Scoter. 



Distinctions. White patches of the head are distinctive of male. Female can be told 

 from that of the WhitSy winged by lack of wing patches; and from the American by absence 

 of cap and presence of two vague light spots on side of the face, one at base of bill and 

 other over ear. 



Field Marks. White on head of male and the two vague spots on face of female. 



Nesting. In grass near water. 



