712 SYSTEMA TIG SYNOPSIS. — LAMELLIBOSTBES - ANSEBE8. 



feathering of its base ; plumage entirely different, being nearly everywhere varied, chiefly in 

 bars, vrith black, chestnut-brovi'n, and yellovrish-brov?n, giving way on the under parts to 

 grayish -brown with dusky nebulation. Size less than that of the (J. This is the common 

 eider of Europe, semidomesticated in some places, so famous for yielding the prized down of 

 commerce, which the parent plucks from her breast to cover the eggs. It is also found in N. 

 Am., as on Cumberland Sound ; but the common American eider is of the foUovring character. 



734. S. m. dres'seri. (To H. E. Dresser, of England. Fig. 493.) American Eider DuCK. Like 

 the last ; plumage the same ; form of the bill different, exhibiting an approach to the structure 

 of that of S. spectabilis. General profile of culmen concave, the frontal processes being wider, 

 higher, more obtuse, and more divaricating than in S. molUssima proper (compare figs, and 

 foregoing description). The difference is very obvious on comparison of specimens, and may 

 be held of specific value if no intermediate specimens are forthcoming. Culmen 2.00 or more ; 

 from apex of frontal processes to tip of bill about 3.00 ; along gape 2.50. 9 differs as in the 

 case of S. molUssima proper. N. Am., northerly, especially on the Atlantic coast; also on 

 large inland waters ; not noted from the N. Pacific ; S. usually in winter to New England, more 

 rarely to the Middle States ; breeding from the Maine coast northward, abundantly in New- 

 foundland and Labrador, where it is one of the characteristic birds. Nest on the ground, of 

 mosses, lichens, hay, and sea weed, to which feathers are added ; eggs 6-10, usually fewer, 

 plain duU greenish-drab, about 3.00 X 2.00, laid in June and July. 



735. S. v-nig'rum. (Quasi-Lat. v-nigrum, noting the black V-shaped mark on the throat). Pacific 

 ElDEB. Like the two preceding, but vrith a large black V-shaped mark on the throat, pointing 

 forward and forking behind, as in S. spectabilis. While the plumage is otherwise as in the com- 

 mon eider, the shape of the bill and character of its feathering are appreciably different, furnish- 

 ing useful characters, especially in the case of the 9 • The fi'ontal processes are acute and parallel, 

 as in S. molUssima, but the gibbosity of the bill is greater than in S. dresseri ; while the feathers 

 upon its sides do not extend so far (scarcely or not reaching opposite the hind end of the nos- 

 trils), and have rounded instead of acute termination; their lower border is also more nearly 

 parallel with the edge of the commissure. The extension of the feathers on the chin equals or 

 even surpasses that on the side of the biU, rather the reverse being the case with S. molUssima 

 and dresseri. Pacific coast fi'om the Arctic Ocean to California, common in suitable localities 

 on both coasts and islands of Behring's Sea, and the polar coasts of Siberia ; replacing the 

 common eider, and associated v^ith the king, spectacled, and Steller's eiders. 



736. S. (E.) specta'bilis. (Lat. spectabilis, conspicuous, spectacular.) King Eider. Characters 

 of bill' and its feathering quite differing fr-om those of other eiders, and moreover varying much, 

 not only in the two sexes, but in the ^ at different seasons. In the adult (J, in the breeding 

 season, the biU develops immense rounded or squarish lateral frontal processes, bulging high 

 out of line with the rest of the bill ; these processes are soft., and moreover depend for their 

 prominence upon the development of a mass of fatty substance upon which they are supported ; 

 they shrink and become more depressed in winter, when the general formation of the parts is 

 not very different from that of other eiders. The frontal feathers extend in a definite line along 

 the elijvated culmen to about opposite the hind end of the nostrOs ; those of the side of the 

 bUl, on the contrary, fall far short of the nostrils ; those of the chin reach about opposite 

 those of the culmen ; the whole feathered outline of the bUl being thus very different fr-om 

 that of any other eider. In the ? , though all the parts concerned are less developed, the same 

 relative extension of feathers obtains, so that the bird is distinguished easily from the ? of 

 any other eider ; the culminal and mental feathers both reaching about opposite the nostrils, 

 those on the side of the bill not extending nearly so far. Adult ^ : Black ; the neck and 

 fore part of the body, most of the wing-coverts and lining of wings, and a spot on each side of 

 the rump, white ; the white of the breast tinged with creamy brown ; the curly tertials black 

 (white in other eiders). A black V-shaped mark on the chin, as in S. v-nigrum. Top of head 



