ANATID^ — FULIGULIN^: SEA DUCKS. 709 



feathers. This is as in the scoters, CEdemia ; in both of which genera the particulars of the bill 

 being specific and in a measure sexual characters, to found genera upon them would be to make 

 one for almost every species. Nevertheless, I am now satisfied that I have gone too far in uniting 

 Eerdconetta and Arctonetta with Somateria. The subgeneric rank accorded to these in the 

 following analysis is to be considered as generic ; and among the eiders proper I would now 

 separate the king eider subgenerically, under the name of Erionetta, from Somateria proper. The 

 characters are given below. In the whole group here presented under the name of Somateria, 

 some further characters may be noted as follows : Nostrils averaging median, variable in posi- 

 tion ; feathers reaching over, under, or not to them. Frontal angles of bill in one species as 

 normally in EuliguUnce, in others variously exaggerated. Nail of bill large, fused, forming the 

 whole tip. Inner secondaries and scapulars sickle-shaped, curved outward and falling ob- 

 liquely over the wing. Sexes very unlike. $ chiefly black and white, with sea-green on the 

 head ; feathers of head in pai-t short, close-set, and erect, like pile of velvet, in part usually 

 stiffish and bnstly. Several remarkable speeiss, of the Northern Hemisphere. 



Analysis of ( Genera), Subgenera, Species, a/iid VaHeties 



(f 9 Bill uot gibbous, without iirontal procesees, not feathered to the noBtrilB, its cutting edge dilated 

 and leathery ; no unusual shape or outline of frontal feathers. (Heniconetta.) 



A violet speculum stellen 731 



(f 9 Bill not gibbous, without &ontal processes, feathered on culmen to a point beyond nostrils, and 

 thence in line sweeping behind nostrils to angle of mouth. ( Aectonetta.) 



No speculum ; an elevated roundish white black-bordered area about eye Jischeri 732 



(f Bill gibbous at base of upper mandible; outline of culmeu variously curved; with long, acute or 

 clubbed, tumid process extending in line with culmen on each side of forehead, divided by extension of 

 feathers on culmen ; feathers of side of bill advancing to about under nostrils, far beyond those on 

 culmen. No speculum. (Somatekia proper.) 

 cf No black V-mark on chin. 



Frontal processes short, narrow, acute, parallel. Smaller vwllissima 733 



Prontal processes long, broad, clubbed, divergent. Larger dresseri 734 



(f A black V-mark on chin v-nigrum 735 



tf Bill extremely gibbous at base of upper mandible, with broad squarish nearly vertical frontal processes 

 bulging angularly out of line of culmen, on each side of forehead, divided by extreme projection of 

 feathers on culmen far beyond tliose on sides of mandible, which do not nearly reach nostrils. 



(EEIOlfEXTA N.) 



(J A black V-mark on chin spectabilis 736 



(Heniconett A. ) 



731. S. (H.) stel'leri. (To G. W. Steller.) Steller's Eider. Adult ,J : Bill and feet dull 

 grayish-blue, the webs rather darker; iris brown. Top and sides of head and collar on 

 neck sEvery-white, washed across forehead and hind-head with sea-green, the chin with a 

 black patch narrowing to run down breaking through the white coUar and continuous with 

 a broad black ring around neck ; a similar patch around eye, these black areas with various 

 lustre. Upper parts at large glossy purplish-blue-black; wing-coverts white; secondaries 

 violet in their exposed portions, tipped with white, the rest, and the tertials and outer 

 scapulars, silvery-white, the inner scapulars violet, striped with white edges ; lining of wings, 

 mostly, and axUlars, white. Under parts duU chestnut-brown, passing to sooty black on the 

 belly and crissum, with an isolated black spot on each side of the breast. The young ^ closely 

 resembles the ?. In both sexes the bill and feet are of an undeflnable dark color in dried 

 specimens. 9 differs as in all the eiders : dark reddish-brown, blackening on beUy and cris- 

 sum, much mottled and barred with black ; no white except on lining of wings and tips of 

 greater coverts and of secondaries, these forming two white bars enclosing the imperfect spec- 

 ulum. Length 18.00-19.00; wing 8.00-8.50; tail 3.50; bill 1.50 along culmen, 1.75 along 

 gape ; tarsus 1.25 ; middle toe and claw 2.20. Northern regions of Europe, Asia, and W. 

 America ; not yet common in collections, though abounding and sometimes gathei'ing in enor- 

 mous flocks on the islands and both shores of Behring's Sea and the Arctic coast of N. E. 



