Eider-Duck 
9 
commences, and all the lower parts and flanks are changed to black for the first time/ and 
a general moult takes place throughout the whole plumage. The moult proceeds somewhat 
slowly, and is not as a rule complete until the end of November, whilst a few late birds 
even retain an occasional feather or so of the eclipse until February. The general character 
of the second winter-plumage is similar to that of adult males, except that the former can 
always be distinguished by the black edges to the long curled sickle-feathers of the inner- 
secondaries. Moreover, these feathers are never so large or so well curled as in adults. 
This character is invariable, as well as the " mottled " appearance of the wing. The wing in 
the second winter-plumage is generally black all round its edges, from the primary-coverts 
to the shoulders, whilst the lesser, median, and secondary-coverts have the feathers broadly 
or narrowly edged with black, these portions in the adult male always being pure white. 
By April all traces of immaturity have gone except on the wings. 
Second Eclipse-plumage. —This often begins to appear as early as June i, and, like 
the first eclipse, the moult commences on the head and neck, the dark colours next coming 
in by means of a moult over the chest, back, and scapulars, so that all the bright colours 
may be quickly obliterated. The feathers of the lower-parts, rump, wangs, and tail are not 
shed, and remain in second winter-plumage. 
The second eclipse is for the most part similar in colouring to the first eclipse — that is 
to say, in the case of the new feathers that have been gained in July ; but these second- 
eclipse Eiders can always be distinguished in this month from first-eclipse and adult birds 
by the colourings of the wings and curled secondaries, which remain as in second-winter 
birds. The whole of the lower-parts also are jet-black as in adult birds. Moreover, males 
in the second eclipse never lose all the white feathers on nape, back, and scapulars as adults 
do, and this plumage has an incomplete appearance. 
Adult Winter-phimage. — The breast, lower-parts, long sickle-feathers, wings, rump, 
under and upper tail-coverts are only shed once — between July i and October i, by 
which date the male has half-shed his second eclipse, and has taken on half of his first 
adult winter-plumage. So the first adult winter-plumage continues to advance until it is 
often quite complete by November i. Wherefore the full plumage of the male Eider is 
obtained in 2 years and 4 months. Many, however, do not attain full plumage until 
December. 
Top of the head rich bluish-black, divided in the centre of the crown, which blends in 
the sea-green colour that covers the back of the head, the nape, and the auricular region ; 
cheeks, back, and scapulars white, with the latter tinged with yellow; centre of back, rump 
and upper tail-coverts deep black; a conspicuous white patch on either side of the rump; tail 
brown, with a grey suffusion ; primaries brown ; secondaries black, with innermost short 
feather white, with broad black margin ; lesser and medium wing-coverts white, with a 
slight tinge of yellow ; chin, throat, and lower neck white; upper-breast buff; flanks, lower- 
breast, belly, and under tail-coverts deep black ; inner secondary-coverts long and curled 
and white. Bill olive-green above, blending into blue-grey below and in front of the 
nostril ; nail bone-yellow, a line of blue-grey along the side of the lower mandible ; feet and 
legs brown, suffused with green, webs black ; irides rich brown. Length, 22 to 25 inches. 
Wing, ii\ inches ; tarsus, if inch. 
1 Instances of a young bird getting its black lower-parts in the first year are somewhat rare, but I have seen examples of th's 
VOL. II. R 
