SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA DRESSERI : EIDER DUCK. 



325 



It is exclusively maritime, and not abundant at any 

 season, though very common further east and north, 

 being one of the most characteristic summer birds of 

 Labrador and Newfoundland. The nest is built on the 



Fig. 69. — Eider Ducks. 



ground, and consists chiefly of mosses, lichens, hay, and 

 seaweed, to which are added the feathers which the bird 

 plucks for that purpose ; the eggs are six to ten in 

 number, but often fewer, plain dull greenish-drab, meas- 

 uring about 3.00 by 2.00. They are laid usually in 

 June and the early part of July. 



