BAY AND SEA DUCKS 
207 
considered desirable for the table, and collectors had a sufficient number, 
at that time a pair being considered enough to represent a species in a 
collection.” 
The cause of this Duck’s extinction is unknown. The last speci- 
men, so far as known, was taken at Grand Menan in 1871. Forty-three 
specimens have been recorded as existing in collections. 
1891. Dutcher, W., Auk, VIII, 201-216; 1894. XI, 4-12 (history). 
Steller’s Eider {157. Polysticta stelleri ), a North Pacific species, is 
of accidental occurrence in Greenland and Quebec. 
159. Somateria mollissima borealis {Brehm). Northern Eider. 
Ad. cf. — Top of head black, a greenish white line on the crown; rest of head, 
throat, neck, upper breast, back, scapulars and lesser wing-coverts white, 
tinged with greenish on sides and back of head, and with vinaceous on 
breast; middle of rump, upper and under tail-coverts, lower breast and belly 
black. Ad. ?. — Head, throat and neck buffy ochraceous, darker above and 
streaked with black; back black, feathers all widely margined, and some- 
times partly barred with buffy ochraceous; breast buffy ochraceous, barred 
with black; belly grayish brown or olive-brown, indistinctly margined or 
barred with buffy. Im. — Similar, but distinctly marked with buffy. L., 
23*00; W., 11*00; Tar., 1*80; B., 2*10. 
Range. — NE. N. Am. Breeds from Ellesmere Land and both coasts of 
Greenland s. to nw. Hudson Bay and s. Ungava; winters in s. Greenland 
and s. rarely to Mass. 
Nest , on the ground, amid coarse herbage and rocks. Eggs , 5-8, pale 
bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 2*95 x 2*00. Date , Shertook Is., 
Greenland, June 20. 
This is the American representative of the Eider Duck of northern 
Europe, from which it differs only slightly. The highly prized Eider 
down is taken from the nest of this bird and its allies. As incubation 
progresses the sitting bird plucks the down from her breast to serve 
as a nest lining. In Iceland, according to Saunders, the average yield 
from each nest is about one-sixth of a pound. When the females begin 
to sit the males leave them, and, gathering in small flocks, live at sea. 
160. Somateria dresseri Sharpe. American Eider. Resembles the 
preceding in color, but differs in the feathering of the base of the culmen. 
In both species the culmen is divided by a wedge of feathers reaching forward 
from the forehead. Looked at from the tip of the bill, the base of the cul- 
men is thus V-shaped. In dresseri the arms of the V are very broad and 
rounded at the ends, while in borealis they are much narrower and generally 
pointed at the ends. L., 23*00; W., 11*30; Tar., 1*70; B., 2*10. 
Range. — NE. N. Am. Breeds from s. Ungava and N. F., to se. Maine, 
and on the s. half of Hudson Bay; winters from N. F., and Gulf of St. 
Lawrence s. on Atlantic coast, regularly to Mass., rarely to Va., and in 
interior rarely to Colo., Iowa, Wise., Ohio, and w. N. Y. 
Long Island, rare W. V. Ossining, A. V., Dec. 
Nest, on the ground, generally sheltered by rocks. Eggs, 5-8, pale bluish 
or greenish, tinged with olive, 3*00 x 2*00. Date , Labrador, June 5. 
This species nests from the coast of Maine northward, and is there- 
fore a species of more southern distribution than the preceding, which 
it resembles in habits. During their visits to the coasts of the United 
States the Eiders are true Sea Ducks, living some distance off shore, 
