116 SEA DUCKS.

Kenya—Formerly, North Atlantic coast, breeding from Labrador north- ward, and in winter migrating southward to Long Island; doubtless now extinct. ‘

In a recent paper* on this species Mr. William Duteher quotes the late Mr. George N. Lawrence, as follows: “I recollect that about forty or more years ago it was not unusual to see them in Fulton Market, and Without doubt killed on Long Island; at one time I remember seeing six fine males, which hung in the market until spoiled for want of a purchaser; they were not considered de- sirable for the table, and collectors had a sufiicient number, at that time a pair being considered enough to represent a species in a col- lection.”

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-two specimens have been recorded as existing in collections.

STELLER’S DUCK ( 157. Eniconetta stellar-i), an arctic species, was observed by Kumlien in Greenland.

159. Senator-1a. moulssima. borealis (Brehm). GREENLAND EIDER. Ad. 5 .-—Top of the head black, a greenish white line on the crown; rest of the head, throat, neck, upper breast, back, seapulars, and lesser wing- coverts white, tinged with greenish on the sides and back of the head, and with vinaceous on the breast; middle of the rump, upper and under tail- coverts, lower breast, and belly black. Ad. 9 .—Head, throat, and neck bufi‘y ochraceous, darker above and streaked with black; back black, the feathers all widely margined and sometimes partly barred with bufl‘y ochraceous; breast bufl'y ochraceous, barred with black; belly grayish brown or olive- brown, indistinetly margined or barred with bufiy. Ina—Similar, but dis- tinctly marked with buffy. L., 2300; W., 1100; Tan, 1'80; 13., 2'10.

Range—Breeds from Labrador northward ; winters southward to Maine.

Mat, on the ground, amid coarse herbage and rocks. Eggs, five to eight, pale bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 2'95 x 2‘00. '

This is the American representative of the Eider Duck of north- ern Europe, from which it differs only slightly. The highly prized Eider down is taken from the nest of this bird and its allies. As in- cubation progresses the sitting bird plucks the down from her breast to serve as a. nest lining. In Iceland, according to Saunders, the aver- age 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. Sonata-in. dresser! Sharpe. AMERICAN EIDER. Resembles the preceding in color, but differs in the feathering of the base of the cul—

* The Auk, vol. viii. 1891. pp. 201216. 't Ibld.. vol. xi. 1894. pp. 4-12.