Anatids:. BIRDS. ANATiUiE. cci 
EIDER DUCK {Somateria mollmima)—F\g. 132, 
learn to take care of themselves, and are seldom seen 
vol. i, p. 423).— 'I’he habitat of this Duck, so cele- 
on the land, but frequent the rocks, and teed on sea- 
bnited for its clown, ranges over the Atlantic and 
weed and such insects as are found there.” 
Arctic Coasts. According to Wilson, the quantity 
SPECTACLED EIDER (-S', fischeri). — 'I'his species. 
of down found in one nest more than filled the crown 
known oidy on the North-west Coast, is a large bird. 
of a hat, yet weighing no more than tliree quarters ot 
measuring about two feet in length. It has a broad 
an ounce; and it is asserted that three pounds ol it 
white space around the eye, surrounded by a ring of 
may be compressed into a space scarce bigger than 
black, which gives rise to the specific name. 
a man's fist, yet is afterwards so dilatable as to fill 
KING EIDER (-S. spectahilis). — This is found as 
a quilt five feet square. Some specimens of this 
far south on the Atlantic as New York (rarely). 
bird have been known to breed near Portland, in 
The Bacific Eider {S nigra) is about the same in 
Maine, this being their most southern abiding-place. 
size, and is precisely like S. mollissima, with the ex- 
Greenland and Iceland abound with the\n, and here. 
cejition of a V-shaped black mark on the chin. 
in particular places, the nests are crowded so close 
STELLER’S DUCK [S. stelleri). — This species is con- 
together that a person can scarcely walk between 
fined to the North-west Coast of America, and is 
them. 'I’hey associate together in flocks, generally 
about eighteen inches in length, and eight inches in 
in deep water, diving for shell-fish, which constitute 
extent of one wing. It bears the name of Western 
their principal food. In Labrador they are numer- 
Duck on some portions of the coast. 
ous, and are occasionally seen as far south as Dela- 
VELVET DUCK [Ouleniia americana). — This is a 
ware. 'I’he flesh is esteemed by the inhabitants of 
very beautiful species, common on the coast of New 
the northern countries, but it is very fishy in flavor. 
England in winter. It is found on both coasts of 
'I’he length is two feet three inches; extent of wing, 
North America, and in the larger iidand waters. The 
three feet; weight, between six and seven pounds. 
flesh is not esteemed on account of its fishy flavor. 
The head is large, and the bill of singular structure. 
The Scoter Duck, with which it often associates, is 
being three inches in length, forked in a remarkable 
confounded with this s])ecies by gunners. 'I’he habits 
manner, running high up in the forehead, between 
of both are very much alike. They visit us only in 
which the plumage descends nearly to the nostrils. 
winter, feeding on the shell-fish that they find in the 
The whole of the bill is of a dull yellowish horn color. 
deep water off the shores. The Velvet Duck meas- 
somewhat dusky in the middle; upper part of the 
ures twenty-three inches in length, and two feet nine 
liead, deep velvet-black, divided laterally on the 
inches in extent of wing, and weighs three pounds. 
hind-head by a whitish band ; cheeks are white ; 
VELVET SCOTER DUCK {0. fnsca) is an occa- 
sides of the head, a pale pea-green, marked with a 
sional visitor on the New England Coast, its usual 
narrow line of white, dropped from the ear-feathers. 
habitat being more northerly. Its food is shell-fish. 
The plumage of this part of the head to the throat 
for which it is almost perpetually diving. It flies 
is tumid, and looks as if cut off at the end, for im- 
heavily, but swims with the greatest ease, even in the 
mediately below the neck it suddenly narrows, some- 
heaviest surf, hence it is sometimes called Surf Duck. 
what in the manner of the Butfle-head, enlarging 
The Scoters are said to appear on the Coast of France 
again greatly as it descends, and has a singular hoi- 
in great numbers, to which they are attracted by a 
low between the shoulders beliind. The upper part 
certain kind of small bivalve, called 'oaimeaux. Over 
of the neck, back, scapulars, lesser wing covers, and 
beds of these shell-fish the fishermen spread their 
sides of the rump are pure white ; lower part of the 
nets, supporting them horizontally at the height of 
breast, vent and belly, black ; tail, primaries, and 
two or three feet from the bottom. At the flowing 
secondaries, brownish-black ; the tertials curiously 
of the tide the Scoters approach in great numbers. 
curved, falling over the wing; legs short and yellow ; 
diving after their favorite food, and soon get en- 
webs of the feet, dusky. The difference in color of 
tangled in the nets. Twenty or thirty dozen have 
the male and female is singularly great. The female 
sometimes been taken in a single tide. These are 
is considerably less than the male, and the bill does 
sold to the Koman Catholics, who are forbidden to 
not rise so high in the forehead. The general color 
eat animal food on a certain day, fish excepted. 
is a dark reddish-drab, mingled with lighter touches. 
These birds, and a few others of the same fishy flavor. 
and everywhere spotted with black; wings dusky. 
have been exempted from the interdict on the sup- 
edged with reddish. The greater coverts, and some 
position that they are cold-blooded, and partaking of 
of the secondaries, are tip[)ed with white ; tail 
the nature of fish. The Scoter measures twentv-one 
brownish-black, lighter than in the male. The plu- 
inches in length, and thirty-four in extent of wing. 
mage in general is centred with bars of black, and 
The female is of a sooty-brown, and has none of the 
broadly bordered with rufous-drab ; cheeks, and space 
knob on the bill. 
over the eye. light drab ; belly dusky, and obscurely 
SURE DUCK ; SEA COOT {0. perspiciUata).—'V\\\s is 
mottled with black; legs and feet as in the male. 
a handsome bird in its winter state, its black velvet 
Van Troil, in Letters on Iceland, observes: “The 
plumage being exceedingly attractive, while its 
young ones quit the nest soon after they are hatched. 
orange-colored bill presents a rich contrast. It 
and follow the female, who leads them to the water. 
breeds in Labrador, and visits the New England 
where, having taken them on her back, she swims 
Coast in winter. The flesh of this and other nearly 
with them a few yards, and then dives, leaving them 
allied species is not good, on account of the diet con- 
floating on the water. In this situation they soon 
1 sisting exclusively of fish. 
Vol. I. — o* 
