THE SURF DU OH. 
611 
this down may be crowded into a ball no larger than one’s fist, yet is afterwards so dilatable 
as to fill a quilt of five feet square. This Duck reaches the farthest limits of the north yet 
known.” The most southern limit is said to have been the rocks about Portland harbor, 
Maine. 
The Eider is a large bird for a Duck, being stouter than some geese. Its length is two feet 
three inches, and extent of wings three feet. Its weight is from six to seven pounds. Its 
flesh is not esteemed, as it is always fishy in flavor. 
As late as 1877 two Eiders were shot in Long Island Sound. 
In Wilson’s time the Eiders bred from Boston to Bay of Fundy. “ In the latter part of 
the fall of 1833 they were seen in considerable numbers in Boston Bay. ’ ’ — Audubon . The latter 
author vouches for the fact that the young Eiders are sometimes taken by the bill of the old 
one and transported to the sea, some little distance from the nest. 
The King Eider ( Somateria spectabUis ) inhabits the northern portions of America and 
Europe, chiefly coastwise. It reaches N e w Jersey southward, and in the interior to Lake 
Erie. Its high and richly orange-colored upper bill gives this bird a strong, distinctive mark. 
The female is plain entirely, like the female of the preceding, but smaller. About the first of 
this century this bird was abundant in Massachusetts Bay, and bred along the Yew England 
coast. The King Duck, as this is called, is regarded as equally valuable for its down. Geraud, 
in his “Birds of Long Island,” states that the young of this bird, during winter, are occasion- 
ally seen at Egg Harbor, as well as on the shores of Long Island, and that an adult male was 
shot in Long Island Sound in 1839. 
This rare bird is about the size of the common Eider, and is notable for its black and 
white body, and the light-red beak and legs. 
Pacific Eider {Somateria v. nigra) is much like the latter, but has the Y-shaped mark 
in black under the chin. 
Spectacled Eider {Lampronetta fischeri). This is known only on the northwest coast. 
It has a broad, white space around the eye, resembling in texture cut velvet ; this is surrounded 
by a ring of black, which aids in giving an aspect of being spectacled. This is a very inter- 
esting species, and quite rare. 
American Scoter {CEdemia americana ), or Velvet Duck. It inhabits both the Atlantic 
and Pacific coasts, and the great inland waters. It is a very beautiful bird ; is jet-black in 
plumage, velvety in appearance, and has a rich orange patch on the upper mandible of the bill. 
The female is quite plain brown. In Audubon’s day they were extremely abundant about 
Boston, New York, and on the Jersey coast — less so southward. 
The American Velvet Scoter {Melanetta velnetina ) inhabits Europe and America. It is 
mostly maritime, but visits the great lakes. This beautiful duck appears on the Chesapeake 
with other species, and in considerable numbers in Audubon’s day. We have seen a few 
during the winter months on the coast around Massachusetts Bay, but it is now quite rare. It 
is of a jet velvety black, with a large patch of white on its secondary feathers, and* a patch of 
white around the eyes. The bill has an orange and a lemon-colored portion. The female is 
marked somewhat similarly, but in umber instead of black. 
This bird is called by the sportsmen of Yew England, White- winged Whistler, or White- 
winged Coot. Its flesh is not esteemed, being like that of many other maritime birds, fishy 
and coarse. Geraud says it is “ extremely abundant on the Long Island Sound during the 
winter, arriving about the first of October.” Bldgway, in the “Smithsonian Catalogue,” 
mentions two species — the present, and M. fusea. 
The Surf Duck {Pelionetta perspicillata). This is also called Coot. It inhabits North 
America coastwise, and Jamaica. A variety is seen in California. Its plumage is black and 
