SEA DUCKS. 117 
     
    
   
   
    
     men. 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 eulmen is thus V—shaped. In dressert' the arms of the V are very broad 
     
     and rounded at the ends, while in borealis they are much narrower and gen- 
     
     erally pointed at the ends. L., 2300 ; W., 1130 ; Tan, 1'70 ; R, 2'10. 
     
    

    
     Range—Breeds from the Bay of Fundy to Labrador; winters southward 
     
     to Delaware; occasional in winter on the Great Lakes. 
     
    

    
     Long Island, rare W. V. Sing Sing, A. V., Dec. 
     
    

    
     Nest, on the ground, generally sheltered by rocks. Eggs, five to eight, 
     
     pale bluish or greenish, tinged with olive, 3'00 x 2'00. 
     
    
   
   
    
     This species is 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 01f 
     
     shore, generally over a bed of mussels, which they secure by diving, 
     
     and which constitute their chief food. 
     
    
   
   
    
     _ 162. Somaterla. spectabllls (Lima). KING EIDER. Ad. 6 .— 
     
     Region about the base of the upper mandible and a large V—s/zaped mark on 
     
     the throat black; top of the head bluish gray; cheeks greenish; neck all 
     
     around white; front and sides of the breast creamy buff; upper back, sides 
     
     of the rump, and wing—coverts white; rest of the plumage black. Ad. 9 .— 
     
     Head and throat bufly ochraeeous, the former streaked with black; back 
     
     black, the feathers widely margined with ochraceous or rufous; under parts 
     
     varying from brownish gray to fuscous, more or less washed, especially on 
     
     the breast, with ochraccous or rufous. Im.-—Paler and with less ochrueeous. 
     
     L., 23-00; W.,10-80; Tar.,1'80; 13., 1-30. 
     
    

    
     Remarka—‘I‘he adult male of this species may at once be known by its 
     
     bluish—gray head and the V-shapcd mark on its throat. Females and young 
     
     birds resemble those of the two preceding species, but are to be distinguished 
     
     by the generally unstrcaked throat and the feathering of the side of the base 
     
     of the bill, which in this species does not, as in the two preceding, reach to 
     
     the nostril. 
     
    

    
     Range—Breeds from Gulf of St. Lawrence northward, and winters south- 
     
     ward more or less regularly to Long Island and the Great Lakes ; casually as 
     
     far as Virginia, and on one occasion Georgia. 
     
    

    
     Long Island, regular W. V. 
     
    

    
     Nest, on the ground, among rocks or herbage. Eggs, six to ten, light olive- 
     
     gray to grayish green, 3-12 x 1'92 (Davie). 
     
    
   
   
    
     While in our waters this species does not differ from the preceding 
     
     in habits. 
     
    
   
   
    
     163. Oidemla. americana. Sw. and Rich. AMERICAN Scorsn; 
     
     BLACK Coor. Ad. 6 .—Entire plumage black,'feathers on the side of the bill 
     
     extending little if any forward beyond the corner of the mouth; bill black; 
     
     upper mandible orange or yellowish at the base. L., 19'00; W., 9'00; Tan, 
     
     1'70; B. along eulmen, 1'75; B. along side, 1'85. 
     
    

    
     Range—Coasts and larger lakes of northern North America; breeds in