ANATID^— THE BWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 177 



S. diesseri. Adult male with lobe or angle ot bill broad and rounded at posterior ex- 

 tremity, its length, tronj anterior extremity of loral feathering, 1.75-2.00; width across 

 middle, not less than . 45 ;■ blaok of head bordered below by pale green for nearly the whole 

 length; female with angle ot bill about 1.87X.22. depth of upper mandible at base .78. 



The third American species, the Pacific Eider (xS'. tMiigra) is 

 a larger aud fi:ner bird than either of the eastern species. It 

 resembles thera in color but has a large V-shaped black mark 

 on the throat and a bright orange-colored bill. It inhabits the 

 northwestern parts of the continent, as well as northeastern 

 Asia. 



Somateria dresseri Sharpe. 



AUEBICAN EIDXB. 



Popular synonyms. Wamp (Conneotiout); Sauam Duck (Maine); Big Sea Duck (Long 

 Island). 



Anas mollissvma Wlis. Am. Orn. vlil, 1814, 122, pL 71 {nee LlNN.). 

 Fuligula {Somateria) mollis.iim,a Nutt. Han. ii, 1834, 407. 

 Fuliaula molUsaima Aud. Orn. Biog. Hi, 1835, 344; v, 1839, 611, pi. 246; Synop. 1839,291; 



B. Am. vi, 1843, 349, pi. 405. 

 Somateria mollissima Bonaf. Oomp. List, 1888, 57 (part).— Baibd, B. N. Am. 1858,809; 



Cat, N. Am. B. 1859, No. 606.— OouBS. Key. 1872, 293; Cheek List, 1873, No. 513. 

 Somateria dresseri Shabpe, Ann. Mag. N. H. July, 1871, 51, fig's. 1.2.— B. B. & E. Water B. 



N. Am. ii, 1884, 76.— A. 0. V. Cheek List. 1886. No. 160.— Bidgw. Man. N. Am. B. 1887,110. 

 Somateria mollissima, var. (?) dresseri COUBS, Birds N. W. 1874, 580. 

 Somateria mollissima dresseri Ridgw. Proo. tf. 8. Nat. Mus. ili, 1880, 205, 222; Nom. N. 



Am. B. 1881, No. 627 o.— CoWES. Check List, 2d ed. 1882, No. 734. 



Hab. American coasts of the North Atlantic, from Maine, Newfoundland, etc., to Lab- 

 rador; in winter, south to Long Island, Delaware, Ontario, Wisconsin, and northern Ohio 

 and Illinois. 



Sp. Chae. Adult male: Similar to S. mollissima, but the "cere" very much broader 

 (.38 to .50 of an inch wide anteriorly), much corrugated, the posterior extremity broad 

 and rounded; green of the head rather more extended, usually following along under- 

 neath the blaok almost or auite to the bilL "Bill pale grayish yellow, the unguis lighter, 

 the soft tumid part pale flesh-oolpr; iris brown; feet dingy light green, the webs dusky" 

 (Attdubon). Adult female: Scarcely 'distinguishable from that of S. mollissima, but basal 

 angles of the maxilla deeper and broader. "Bill pale grayish green; iris and feet as in 

 the male" (Audubon)*. Downy young: Not distinguishable from that of S. mo!Ztssima[?). 



Total length, about 24.00 to 26.00 inches; extent, 39.00 to 42.00; wing, 11.15-11.50; oulmen, 

 1.95-2.40; from tip of bill to end of basal angle, 2.75-8.35; greatest width of angle, .38-.50; 

 tarsus, 2.00-2.20; middle toe, 2.50-2.70 (six examples). ' 



Though nearly related to the true Eider of Europe {S. molUs- 

 sima), the American Eider is clearly distinct. Its habits, how- 

 ever, are much the same. 



* The' fresh color of an adult male received at the National Museum from Wood's Holl, 

 Massachusetts, February 24, 1888, were as^foUows: Lobes of bill, as far as the nostrils, dull 

 olay-yellowlsh, lighter and more tinged with olive along lower edge; nails of bill dull 

 grayish greenish white; rest of bill horn-grayish; feet light yellowish oUve, the webs 

 grayish dusky. 



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