208 
ANAS MOLLISSXMA. 
the same brownish white, or pale reddish cream ; lesser 
wing-coverts, brown ash, greater tipt with reddish 
cream ; the first five secondaries deep velvety black, 
the next five resplendent green, forming the speculum 
or beauty spot, which is bounded above by pale buff, 
below by white, and on each side by deep black ; 
primaries, ashy brown ; tail, pointed, eighteen feathers, 
dark drab ; legs and feet, flesh coloured. In some a few 
circular touches of white appear on the breast near the 
shoulder of the wing. The windpipe has a small bony 
labyrinth where it separates into the lungs ; the intestines 
measure three feet six inches, and are very small and 
tender. 
The female wants the chestnut bay on the head, and 
the band of rich green through the eye, these parts 
being dusky white speckled with black ; the breast is 
gray brown, thickly sprinkled with blackish, or dark 
brown ; the back dark brown, waved with broad lines 
of brownish white ; wing nearly the same as in the male. 
This species is said to breed at Hudson’s Bay, and to 
have from five to seven young at a tirne.^ In France 
it remains throughout the year, and builds in April, 
among the rushes on the edges of ponds. It has been 
lately discovered to breed also in England, in the mosses 
about Carlisle, f It is not known to breed in any part 
of the United States. The teal is found in the north 
of Europe as far as Iceland, and also inhabits the Caspian 
Sea to the south. Extends likewise to China, having 
been recognized by Latham among some fine drawings 
of the birds of that country. 
SUBGENUS III. — FULIGULA , BONAPARTE. 
267 . ANAS MOLLISSIMA , LINNJEUS AND WILSON. - — EIDER DUCK. 
WILSON, PLATE LXXI. FIG. II. — MALE. 
EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
The eider duck has been long celebrated in Europe 
for the abundance and excellence of its down, which, 
* Latham. f Bewick. 
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