92 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



to the Surf Duck. On the Long Ishind .shore this bird passes its time in the open 

 sea in company with the Velvet and the Surf Ducks. Like other diving Ducks, it is 

 occasionally taken by being entangled in the fishermen's nets. 



According to Audubon the Scoter Duck ranges along our entire southern coast, 

 even as far as New Orleans — or rather, the mouth of the Mississippi River. He 

 also states that a few of this species remain in Labrador to breed, and that some of 

 his young companions met with their nests on the 11th of July; but he is either in 

 error in the description he gives of the eggs found, or else they were not those of 

 this Duck. The nest, he says, was placed at the distance of about two yards from 

 the margin of a large fresh-water pond, about a mile from the shore of the Gulf of 

 St. Lawrence, under a low fir, in the manner often adopted by the Eider Duck, whose 

 nest it somewhat resembled, although much smaller. It was composed externally of 

 sticks, moss, and grasses, and was lined with down mixed with feathers. The eggs — 

 eight in number — were nearly ready to be hatched. Audubon describes them as 

 being 2.00 inches in length and 1.63 in breadth, of an oval form, and of a pale yel- 

 lowish color. The identified eggs of this species — so far as I know — are uniformly 

 white. Audubon afterward found a female with seven young ones, of which she took 

 such affectionate care that none of them fell into his hands. When they had become 

 fatigued by diving she received all of them on her back, and, swimming very fast, 

 carried them to the shore, where they escaped by hiding among the tall grass. 



Eggs of this species (Smithsonian Institution, ISTo. 14602), obtained by Mr. Dall at 

 Pastolik, are of a pinkish ivory-Avhite, varying in length from 2.65 to 2.70 inches, and 

 with a breadth of 1.60. 



Genus MELANETTA, Boie. 



Mclanitta, BoiR, Isis, 1822, 564 (type, by elimination, Anas fusca, Linn.). 

 Mdanetta, Gray, 1840 ; List Gen. 1841, 95. — Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, 805. 

 Maccranas, Less. Man. II. 1828, 414 (same type). 



Char. Feathers at the base of the bill extending forward almost to the nostril in two promi- 

 nent angles — one on the side of the maxilla, the other on top, at the base of the culmen ; sides of 



M. velvetina. 



the maxilla rather sunken or compressed above the tomiiun. Colors uniform black or brown, with 

 a white speculum on the wings, the adult male with a wliite spot immediately beneath the eye. 



