SEA DUCKS 



(162) Somateria spectabilis 



{Linn.) (Lat., conspicuous). 



KING EIDER. Ad. d" in Breed- 

 ing plumage — Bill with the frontal 

 process grcatl3' developed, square- 

 ended and bulging. Bill proper, quite 

 small. Plumage as shown. For a 

 short period in summer, moults to a 

 plumage similar to that of the 9 . 

 Ad. 9 — Plumage almost indistin- 

 guishable from that of the common 

 Eider, but usually a little grayer; 

 bill showing little of the development 

 of that of the <f but enough to iden- 

 tify it. L., 22.00; \V., 11.00; T., 

 4.00; B., 1.25. 



Range — Northern Hemisphere. 

 Breeds along the whole Arctic coast. 

 In winter, south to Long Island; 

 casually to Ga. 



either side of the forehead. The Common Eider, the one 

 in which this soft process has a rounded end, is not un- 

 common off the New England coast during winter. 



In parts of Greenland, Iceland and smaller islands in 

 northern waters, the natives protect Eiders and encourage 

 their breeding, gaining considerable revenue from the 

 quantities of down with which the nests are lined. The 

 nest itself is formed of grass and moss, matted together and 

 hollowed to fit the duck's body; after the full complement of 

 five to seven greenish-buff eggs are laid, the female com- 

 mences plucking the soft down from the under part of her 

 body, placing it under and around the eggs so as to retain 

 the warmth when she leaves the nest to feed. These pro- 

 tected birds become very tame and often allow visitors to 

 stroke their backs without protest. If the first nest and 

 eggs are taken the female will lay a second, the lining of 

 which requires practically all the down she possesses. The 

 down from a single nest weighs about three quarters of an 

 ounce and, when fluffed up, will fill a good-sized hat. Both 



100 



