LEIDER DUCK. 49 
of France and Italy; migrates to Sweden, and is found through- 
out Russia and Siberia.* 
It is a very quick diver, soas to make it difficult to be shot ; 
flies also with great rapidity, and utters a note not unlike that 
of the mallard, but louder. Is fond of salines and ponds over- 
grown with reeds and rushes. Feeds during the day, as well 
as in the morning and evening. 
EIDER DUCK. (Anas mollissima.) 
PLATE LXXI.—Fia. 2, Mas. 
L’Oye 4 Duvet, ou Eider, Briss. vi. p. 294, pl. 29, 3.—Buff. ix. p. 103, pl. 6.— 
Pl. ent. 209.—Great Black and White Duck, Edw. pl. 98.—Bewick, ii. p. 279.— 
Arct. Zool. No. 480.—Lath. Syn. iii. p. 470.—Peale’s Museum, No. 2706. 
SOMATERIA MOLLISSIM A.—LEACH.+ 
Anas mollissima, Linn. Syst. i. p. 198.—Canard Eider, Temm. Man. d@’Ornith. ii. 
p. 848.—Hider or Cuthbert’s Duck, Mont. Ornith. Dict. i. and Supp.—Eider, 
Selby, Illust. Br. Ornith. p. 70.—Fuligula (subgen. Somateria) mollissima, 
Bonap. Synop. p. 388.—Somateria mollissima, North. Zool. ii. p. 448. 
Tue eider duck has been long celebrated in Europe for the 
abundance and excellence of its down, which, for softness, 
* Latham. 
+ This other form among the Anatide was proposed by Dr Leach, 
and will contain only two species, the eider and king ducks, both 
common to Europe and America, It is very well marked, and pos- 
sesses some peculiarities, The birds are truly sea-ducks, keep entirely to 
that element, and breed on its shores or islands, and are never, as Dr 
Richardson remarks, seen on fresh water. The form is thick, rather 
flat and heavy ; the plumage of the males possesses decided contrasting 
colours of black and white ; the females, reddish brown. The plumage 
of the head projects far upon the base of the bill, and is of a thick silky 
texture, which can be raised or swelled at pleasure, so as to increase the 
apparent size of the head and neck, and in both species exhibits remark- 
able colours not often seen among birds, and very difficult for colourists 
to represent—pistachia green, and a pleasing dull shade of blue verditer. 
In the scapulars of the Anatidw, we have already seen a variable 
structure ; they are here of considerable breadth, rigid texture, and 
curve over the quills, as if curled with an iron. The feet are placed 
VOL, IT. D 
