the true eider ducks. 
37 
THE TRUE EIDER DUCKS. GENUS SOMATERIA. 
Somateria, Leach, in Ross’s Voy. Disc. App.p. xlviii. (1819). 
Type, S. mollissima (Linn). 
Inin “PP®'' mandilile are not bent 
nwardly ; the lores are separated from the feathens of the fore- 
iiead by a bare space ; the bill is rather narrow and pointed, 
/rr o ^ inner secondaries are slightly falcate, or sickle-shaped. 
(Cf. S.ilvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 327). 
There are four species of True Eiders, of which Somaleria 
res, sen is North American; S.y. -nigrum inhabits North-west- 
ern America and North-eastern Asia; S.spectabilis, North-eastern 
Europe and North America, occasionally visiting the British 
Islands, in parts of which the Common Eider is a resident. 
I. THE COMMON EIDER DUCK. SOMATERIA MOLLISSI.AIA. 
Anas mollissima, Linn. S. N. i. p. 198 (1766). 
SomaUria mollissima, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 147 '(1852); Dresser, 
B. Eun VI. p. 629, pi. 445 (1871) ; B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 
134 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 437 (1883) • 
Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 616 (1885); Saunders, Man. Br! 
P \447 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxii. 
(18927; Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. iMus. x.vvii. p. 425 (1895). 
(Plate LX 11.) 
including the 
are firP^e scapulars and innermost secondaries, ivhich 
S ti’erump and upper tail-coverts 
a id bustm-d^iWng, primary and greater coverts, 
a iesT ih with paler shafts; the inner second! 
adjoin t p they 
Dhsh blart- feathers; crown of head velvety puD 
Fo es doi k extending below the eye and abo4 the 
crnl^n 1 P, l’°''hon of the mandible; the hinder 
Clown divided by a broad streak of white, tinged with green • 
R^eerivhir' 
emire ides of f portion ; 
tTe hind neck f " w’lite of 
the lo vJ Shf ’■ and chest delicate pink, 
I Slower feathers fringed with black at the ends, ivhere they 
