EIDER-DUCK 
Somateria moUissima (Linnaeus) 
Anas inolHsstma, Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. x., i. p. 124 (1758). 
Anas moUissima, Linn., Syst. Nat., ed xii., i. p. 198 (1766). 
Anser lanuginosus, Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. et B. Brit. Mus., p. 37 (i8r6, ex Briss.). 
Somateria moUissima^ Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 564; Yarrell, Saunders, Dresser, &c. 
Anas cuthberti, Pall., Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat., ii. p. 235 (1831). 
Somateria danica, Brehm, Isis, 1830, p. 998 ; Vog. Deutschl., p. 890 (1831). 
SomateiHa norwegica, id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 892, Taf. xliii., fig. i. 
Somateria platyuros^ id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 892. 
Somateria fcerdeensis, id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 893. 
Somateria megauros, id, torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn cit., p. 894. 
Somateria islandica, id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 895. 
Somateria borealis, id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 896. 
Somateria leisleri, id, torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit,, p. 896. 
Somateria planifrons, id. torn, cit., p. 998 ; torn, cit., p. 897. 
Somateria St. Cuthberti, Eyton, Cat, Brit. B., p. 58 (1836). 
Somateria thuleftsis, Malmgr., QEfr. K. Vet.-Ak. Forh., 1864, p. 380; J. F. O., 1865, p. 396. 
Somateria moUissima moUissima (L.), Joint auth., a Hand-list British Birds, p. 144 (1912), 
Local Names. — Eider-duck, Common Eider, St. Cuthbert's duck. Eider-goose, Moss-cock, Moss-ducker 
(Forfarshire), Dunter (E.Scotland and Shetland) {English); Lach mhor, Co\k {Gaelic) Gochach 
{St. Kilda) ; Morillon, Eider {French) ; Eidergans {Gertnan) ; Eidereend {Dutch) ; Edderand, Edder- 
fugl, Uhand {Danish) ; Ejder, Eidergas, Ejderfugl, Aerbult, Helsingbock (male), Skrya (female), 
Helsing (male), Skroja (female), Gudange (male), Ana (female), &c. {Swedish) ; Estegg, Efugl, Edder- 
fugl, Aerfugl {Norwegian) ; Gagka Normota, Gaga {Russian) ; Hauda {Lappish) ; Eava, Aeda, Aeva, 
Blikur {Fceroese); Haaka, Kalkas, Auhti, Haahkatelkka, Hauho {Finnish); Eider-pihle {Esthnian); 
Hurn-snoabelt {Heligoland) ; Avok, Malersertak, Ugpatekortok {Greenland) ; Edredone, Anatra del 
piumino {Italian); Kaczka erdordrenowa {Polish); Lagy Dunna {Hungarian). 
Egg. — The number of eggs seems to vary greatly according to locality. On the Fames 
it is often 4 to 5, but other nests with 9, 11, 12, 13, 18, or 19 eggs are recorded (G, Bolam, 
B. of Northumberland, p. 406) ; 4 to 6 seems to be the usual number in Scotland and the 
adjacent islands, whilst Saxby states that sets of 5 are rare in the Shetlands, On Spits- 
bergen Le Roi gives 4, 5, 6, and occasionally 7, twice 8 and once 9 (Avif, Spitzbergeasis). 
Professor Collett says 14 have been found in a nest in Norway, but the usual number in 
Scandinavia is 4 to 6, occasionally 7, and the occasional cases in which 10 or 12 eggs are 
found in one nest are ascribed to two ducks laying together. The average size of 426 
eggs, given by H, Goebel, is 77.9x52.2 mm. Max. 89x52.5, 86x56.5; min., 69x47 and 
75 X46. Average weight of 350 eggs, 858 eg., varying from 648 to 1 146 eg. 
The shape is usually somewhat oval, fairly rounded at both ends. Sometimes they 
are pointed and almost pear-shaped. 
The colour of the eggs is usually of a pale olive, but they vary considerably even in 
the same clutch. Sometimes they are of a deep blue colour (see Jourdain, British Birds, 
vol. vi., p. 241). It is not uncommon to find what look like oil spots on the eggs. 
The breeding season in the Fames is about May 12 (G. Bolam). In Orkney I have 
found fresh eggs from June i to July i, and in Shetlands fresh eggs are found from 
