ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 231 
Female.—Dark brown with black bars; head black ; 
eye markings similar to male, but indistinct ; head and neck 
light greyish-buff. 
Young.—The young of this species may be distinguished 
from the other Eiders by the peculiar formation and feathering 
over the base of bill, and by the indication of the spectacle 
mark round the eyes. 
Egg. 
Nore.—It is proper to remark that the authors above quoted state that the bill of the 
Fischer's Eider changes after death to a light-reddish colour, and that the 
eyes of all the specimens collected by Mr. Dall were dark brown or hazel, 
and not blue, as has been asserted. 
Olivaceous brown ; two to three in number. 
GENUS SOMATERIA. 
The Eiders are placed first by Brehm as the largest 
and most beautiful of the true divers, and are essentially 
marine birds, never being found inland; they are strong on 
the wing, flying close above the surface of the sea. ‘Their food 
is obtained by diving, which they are able to swallow under 
water, and consists of various sorts of shell-fish. They breed 
in colonies, incubation lasting about a month. The Somateria 
are easily identified when it is realised that in all the species 
some part of the head of the male bird is pale green with a long 
and powerful bill, extending far back. ‘The birds of this 
genus are inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere, where they 
breed from May to July, being strictly monogamous. The nest 
is roughly constructed of grass, seaweed, and similar materials 
heaped together, in which are placed from six to eight round 
eggs, generally green or white. The young are hatched on the 
twenty-sixth day, being able to swim and dive, the mother 
taking them immediately down to the sea. Five species of 
Eiders are known to ornithologists, of which four are unknown 
