416 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



Subgenus. — Oidemia, Bonap. (Genus of, Fleming.) 



With the hill broad, and gibbous above the nostrils, its margins 

 dilated ; lamelliform teeth coarse. Mostrils nearly in the middle of 

 the bill, large and elevated. The tail consisting of 14 feathers. — 

 The prevailing color in these birds is black ; the female brown. 

 This tribe of Ducks live principally at sea, and frequent the edge of 

 the surf. 



BLACK, OR SURF DUCK. 



(Fuligula perspicillata, Bonap. Synops. No. 333. Anas per spicillata, 

 Linn. Lath. Ind. ii. p. 847. sp. 42. Wilson, viii. p. 49. pi. 67. 

 fig. 1. [male,] Temm. Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 853. Oidemia perspi- 

 cillata, Richard, and Swains North. Zool. ii. p. 449. Black 

 Duck, Penn. Arct. Zool. No. 483. Great Black Duck, from 

 Hudson's Bay, Edwards, pi. 155. Macreuse a large bee, ou Mar- 

 chand, Buff. Ois. ix. p. 244. Pi. Enlum. 995. Phil. Museum, 

 No. 2788.) 



Sp. Charact. — No speculum ; the feet red; the bill with a protu- 

 berance on each side. — J^fa^e glossy black 3 the crown and nape 

 marked with white. Female sooty-brown, near the bill and auric- 

 ulars, whitish. 



This species of Sea Duck, with other dark kinds here 

 commonly called Coots, may be properly considered as 

 an American species ; its visits in the Orkneys and Euro- 

 pean seas being merely accidental. They breed on the 

 Arctic coasts, and extend their residence to the opposite 

 side of the continent, having been seen at Nootka Sound 

 by Captain Cook. During summer they feed principally in 

 the sea ; they also commonly frequent shallow bars and surf- 

 lashed shores and bays in quest of various kinds of small 



