ANSERES. 257 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 446. 



The King Eider is said to be common on the Kurile Islands (Pallas, 

 Zoogr. Kosso-Asiat. ii. p. 237), but no examples have been obtained 

 there by recent travellers. It is a circumpolar species, breeding on 

 the shores of the Arctic Ocean and wintering further south. It is a 

 common winter visitor to the Aleutian Islands, and occasionally 

 strays as far south as the British Islands. 



253. SOMATERIA STELLERI. 



(STELLER'S EIDER.) 

 Anas gtelkri, Pallas, Spicilegia Zoologica, pt. vi. p. 35 (1780). 



The male Steller's Eider has a blue-black ring round the neck and 

 a black back. It has a green patch on the lores and on the nape. 

 The female has a purple-blue speculum between two white alar bars. 



Eigures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 447. 



Steller's Eider is a winter visitor to the Kurile Islands, but has not 

 been recorded from Japan (Blakiston and Pryer, Trans. As. Soc. 

 Japan, 1882, p. 100, no. 51). Dr. Stejneger found it on the Com- 

 mander Islands, and it visits Kamtschatka (Blakiston and Pryer, 

 Ibis, 1878, p. 215). 



Steller's Eider breeds on the shores of the Arctic Ocean in North 

 Russia and Siberia, and on the islands in Bering Sea. It is an 

 accidental visitor to the British coast. 



254. MER6US MERGANSER. 

 (GOOSANDER.) 



Mergus merganser, Linneua, Syst. Nat. i. p. 208 (1766). 



The Goosander is the largest of the Mergansers and differs from 

 its allies in all plumages in the colour of its central secondary quills, 

 which are white with completely concealed dark bases on the outer 

 webs. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pi. 452. 



The Goosander occurs on the Kurile Islands (Pallas, Zoogr. Rosso- 

 Asiat. ii. p. 287), and is a winter visitor to the Japanese Islands. 



