SURF SCOTER. 133 



Bay, It has been met with in various parts of Europe, but 

 is of rare occurrence there, its proper country, it appears, 

 being America. 



YoTJNG. — According to Mr. Audubon, " in the young 

 males, in the month of September, the whole upper plumage 

 is mottled with darkish brown and grepsh-white, the latter 

 colour margining most of the feathers. The neck has a con- 

 siderable extent of dull greyish-white, spread over two or 

 three inches, and approaching toward the cheeks and throat." 



Progress toward Maturity. — About the beginning of 

 January, according to the same observer, " they become of a 

 more uniform dark tint, the upper part of the head brownish- 

 black, without any white spot. There is a patch of 

 brownish-white at the base of the upper mandible on each 

 side, another of an oblong form over the ear, and on the 

 nape are elongated greyish-white marks. The bill and feet 

 dusky green; the iris brown." 



