IIQ SEA DUCKS. 



^an^«.— Formerly, North Atlantic coast, breeding from Labrador north, 

 ■ward, and in winter migrating southward to Long Island; doubtless now 

 extinct. 



In a recent paper* on this species Mr. William Dutcher quotes 

 the late Mr. George N. Lawrence, as follows: "I recollect that 

 about forty or more years ago it was not unusual to see them in 

 Pulton Market, and without doubt killed on Long Island; at one 

 time I remember seeing six fine males, which hung in the market 

 until spoiled for want of a purchaser ; they were not considered de- 

 sirable for the table, and collectors had a sufBcient number, at that 

 time a pair being considered enough to represent a species in a col- 

 lection." 



The cause of this Duck's extinction is unknown. The last speci- 

 men, so far as known, was taken at Grand Menan in 1871.t Forty-two 

 specimens have been recorded as existing in collections. . 



Stellbe's Duck (157. Snioomtta stelleri), an arctic species, was observed 

 by Kumlieu in Greenland. 



159. Somateria mollissima borealis {BreJim). Geeenland 

 Eider. Ad. t, .—Top of the head black, a greenish white line on the crown ; 

 rest of the head, throat, neck, upper breast, back, scapulars, and lesser wing- 

 coverts white, tinged with greenish on the sides and back of the head, and 

 with vinaceous on the breast ; middle of the rump, upper and under tail- 

 coverts, lower breast, and belly black. Ad. 9 .—Head, throat, and neck buffy 

 oehraoeous, darker above and streaked with black ; back black, the feathers 

 all widely margined and sometimes partly barred with buffy ochraceous ; 

 breast buft'y ochraceous, barred with black ; belly grayish brown or olive- 

 brown, indistinctly margined or barred with bufty. Im. — Similar, but dis- 

 tinctly marked with bufty. L., 23-00 ; W., 11-00 ; Tar., 1-80 ; B., 2-10. 



Range. — Breeds from Labrador northward ; winters southward to Maine. 

 Nest, on the ground, amid coarse herbage and rocks. Eggs, five to eight, 

 pale bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 2-95 x 2-00. 



This is the American representative of the Eider Duck of north- 

 ern Europe, from which it dilfers only slightly. The highly prized 

 Eider down is taken from the nest of this bird and its allies. As in- 

 cubation progresses the sitting bird plucks the down from her breast 

 to serve as a nest lining. In Iceland, according to Saunders, the aver- 

 age yield from each nest is about one sixth of a pound. When the 

 females begin to sit the males leave them and, gathering in small 

 flocks, live at sea. 



160. Somateria dresseri Sharpe. American Eider. Kesembles 

 the preceding in color, but differs in the feathering of the base of the cul- 



* The Auk, vol. viii, 1891, pp. SOl-316. t Ibid., vol, xi, 1894, pp. 4-18. 



