EIDER DUCK. 
149 
of France and Italy ; migrates to Sweden, and is found tlirougli- 
out Russia and Siberia.* 
It is a very quick diver, so as to make it difficult to be shot ; 
flies also with great rapidity, and utters a note not unlike that 
of the mallard, but louder. Is fond of salines and ponds over- 
grown with reeds and rushes. Feeds during the day, as well 
as in the morning and evening. 
, EIDER DUCK ANAS MOLLISSIMA—Plate LXXI. Fig. 2, 
Male. 
L’Oye a duvet, ou I’Eider, Briss. vi. p. 294, pi. 29, 3 Buff. ix. p. 103, pi. 6. — 
PL JEnl. 209 Great black and white duck, BJdw. pi. 98 Bewick, ii. p. 279. 
Arct. Zool. No. 480 Lath, Syn. iii. p. 470 Peale's Museum, No. 2706. 
SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA.—EEACH.f 
Anas mollisslina, Syst. i. p. 198. — Canard eider, Temm. Man. d" Ornith. ii. 
p. 848 Eider, or Cutlibert’s duck, Mont. Ornith. Diet. i. and Supp Eider, 
Selby, Illust. Br. Ornith. p. 70. — Fuligula, (sub-gen. somateria) moUissima, 
Synop. p. 388 Somateria moUissima, North Zool. ii. p. 448. 
The eider duck has been long celebrated in Europe for the 
abundance and excellence of its down, which, for softness, 
* Latham. 
. f This other form among the AnatidcB was proposed by Dr Leach, and will 
contain only two species, the eider and king ducks, both common to Europe and 
America. It is very well marked, and possesses some peculiarities. The birds are 
truly sea ducks, keep entirely to that element, and breed on its shores or islands, 
and are never, as Dr Richardson remarks, seen on fresh water. The form 
is thick, rather flat and heavy ; the plumage of the males possesses decided con- 
trasting colours of black and white ; the females, reddish brown ; the plumage 
of the head projects far upon the base of the bill, and is of a thick silky texture, 
which can be raised or swelled at pleasure, so as to increase the apparent size of 
the head and neck, and in both species exhibits remarkable colours not often seen 
among birds, and very difficult for colourists to represent — pistachia green, 
and a pleasing dull shade of blue verditer. In the scapulars of the Anatidce, we 
