OF NORTH AMERICA. 305 
Habitat — About the same as the other 
coots, and resembling them in general habits. 
30. SURF SCOTER. SKUNK-HEAD. 
Oidemia perspreillata. 
Male bird black, with white spot on fore- 
head, and another on back of neck ; bill prom- 
inent, orange at top and tip, mottled with 
black at base, a large black spot at base on 
each side, in front of which is a bluish-white 
patch ; eyes white; feet orange, webs dark. 
Female brown, whitish on sides of head and be- 
neath ; bill dark gray ; feet dirty-yellow, webs 
black; eyes brown. Weight about 24 to 34 
Ibs. A little smaller than No. 34. 
This seems to be the most plentiful of this 
family, at least about the shores of New Ene- 
land, where they are most sought for by gun- 
ners, but the comparison is rendered variable 
by local conditions. 
In Massachusetts Bay — the Mecca of 
“ cooters ” — they strike in about August 15 
and the flight is over about September 20, 
but the birds stay about all winter. They 
feed upon the flats, but are then extremely 
difficult of approach by floating. They are 
mostly shot outside the harbors as they fly 
by and are called down by decoys. Curiously 
enough, although they reach the bay so early, 
they are seldom seen below Cape Cod until 
October 1. 
