Genus SOMATERIA or EIDERS. 



Type SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA. 



Somateria of F. Boie (1822). The birds comprising the 

 present genus are best characterised by having the scapulars 

 long and falcated, and the head marked with emerald green. 

 Unfortunately, these distinctions only apply to males, and the 

 following character must also be added to distinguish the females : 

 feathers on the forehead and on the sides of the bill projecting 

 in triangular patches nearly or quite as far as the nostrils. The 

 wings are moderately long; the tail is short and consists of 

 fourteen feathers. The bill is swollen and elevated at the base, 

 extending on to the forehead ; nostrils small and oval. Three 

 toes in front webbed ; hind toe moderate and lobed. 



This genus contains six species and subspecies which are 

 confined to the northern portions of the Palsearctic and Nearctic 

 regions. Three species are British, one of which is a common 

 resident in, and two are accidental visitors to, our islands. 



The Eiders are dwellers exclusively on rocky coasts. They 

 are birds of somewhat slow and laboured yet powerful flight ; 

 they swim and dive well, but walk clumsily. They subsist on 

 crustaceans, marine insects, and shell-fish. Their notes are harsh 

 and grating. They make slovenly nests, which are lined with 

 down, upon the ground, and their eggs are numerous and green 

 of various shades, unspotted. They are monogamous, but the 

 male takes no share in family duties. They are more or less 

 gregarious and social at all seasons. 



