320 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 
EIDER DUCK 
Somateria mollissima (Linneus) 
The common Eider is a resident in the British Islands, but 
is only known to breed in England in one locality, viz. the 
Farne Islands, Northumberland; but over the rest of our 
coasts, excepting Scotland, it is rare, and only met with 
occasionally. It is also found inhabiting the northern por- 
tions of the Western Palzarctic region. 
In food and habits it calls for no special comment. This 
bird is noted for the down with which its nest is lined, and 
for this reason is very strictly protected in many places abroad. 
The down in the first two nests is seldom allowed to remain, 
but the Duck is allowed to hatch after lining the nest a third 
time. 
The Drakes are extremely handsome. The head and neck 
are black, with a white line running backwards from the crown 
to the nape, whichis green. The cheeks, back, wing-coverts, 
and long sickle-shaped secondaries (characteristic of the Eider 
Ducks) white. Wings, rump, and tail black; breast warm 
buff ; rest of under parts black; bill and legs greenish. In 
the ‘‘eclipse”’ plumage the whole of the head and white 
portion of the body (except the wing-coverts) become dull 
brownish black. The female is principally brown and black. 
Length 23 in. ; wing 11 in. 
HOODED MERGANSER 
Mergus cucullatus (Linneus) 
The Hooded Merganser is a rare nomadic autumn and 
winter migrant to our shores. It is a North American species. 
Its distinguishing feature is a semicircular black crest and a 
broad patch or bar of white behind the eye. The adult female 
has the crest reddish brown, and is rather smaller in size than 
the male. Length gin. ; wing 7°75 in. 
