Co 
Co 
OF NORTH AMERICA. 
32. KING EIDER. 
Somateria spectabilis. 
Habitat — Circumpolar ; south in winter, 
in very small numbers, to lat. 40° N. 
This bid varies much in appearance from 
the others of the family, and may be distin- 
guished by the presence of the black V throat 
mark, from the Eastern variety, and from 
the Western by the different configuration of 
the bill, especially in the summer. 
aoe. DAE RaGAN  SCOTERR. = SEA> COOT: 
BUYEER-BILEL: 
Oidemia americana. 
Color of drake entirely black; bill very 
peculiar, having a very prorounced hump at 
the base, which is y ellow, changing to black 
on the tip. Weight 2} to 3lbs. The female 
is smaller, dusky oe paler beneath, with- 
out hump on the bill; feet dark ; eyes brown. 
Habitat — North American coast and Great 
Lakes. 
I have now touched on ground ‘“ where 
angels might fear to tread,” for none are so 
jealous of their favorite bird as the “coot 
shooter,” and there is no family so diversely 
named and regarded by mankind. A young 
bird may be a luscious dish for an epicure, 
and *coot stew’”’ is famous, but an old bird 
