WATER BIRDS. 107 



the larger number probably winter farther 

 south. The bird is not confined to the 

 Great Lakes, but visits the smaller inland 

 waters, and has been taken at various 

 interior points throughout the state. Our 

 record of specimens includes the following 

 locahties: St. Clair Flats, St. Clair Co., 

 Sault Ste. Marie, and Neebish Island, 

 Chippewa Co., Pine Lake, Ingham Co., 

 Heisterman's Island and Bay City, Bay ^%ll^ b'IS^^K ^^ToFS'-^f 



Co., and Point ]\Iouille Marsh, Monroe Co., the western united states. (Houghton, 



(November 11, 1904). It is found usually ^ifflm & co.) 

 in flocks of varying size and according to Kumlien & Hollister it is "At 

 times exceedingly abundant on Lake Michigan, vast flocks being met with 

 at long distances from land. It is often taken in fishermen's nets in deep 

 water far from shore" (Birds of Wisconsin, p. 26). 



Like the preceding, this species nests in the far north, but is not quite 

 so boreal. We have no record of its nesting within our limits, yet it is not 

 impossible that it may do so. It breeds abundantly in Labrador, Alaska, 

 and much of the intervening territory. Mr. A. C. Bent gives the following 

 facts in regard to its nesting in North Dakota (the Devils Lake region) : 

 "The nests were on islands among rosebushes, well hidden, being hollows 

 scooped in the ground, the eggs always thickly covered with rubbish when 

 left. New nests have no down, but it is added when the set is complete. 

 In North Dakota it was the latest of our ducks to breed, few eggs were 

 laid before the last week in June. June 27, 1898, Mr. Job found eight 

 nests containing eggs varying in number from 1 to 14, and all fresh. The 

 eggs are pale salmon buff or flesh-color. They average 2.68 by 1.83 inches" 

 (Auk, XIX, 170-171). 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Feathering of sides of head (lores) extending forward on the bill much farther than 

 the corner of the mouth. Wing always with a white speculum. Adult male: Sides 

 and tip of bill orange-yellow in life, the middle line white, the rest black. Legs and feet 

 red; iris white. Entire plumage deep black except for a conspicuous white speculum and 

 a small curved white spot below and behind the eye. Adult female : Similar, but brownish 

 or grayish-black, grayest below; the speculum white as in the male, but the white on side 

 of head never a single, sharply defined, curved spot, but usually appearing as two rather 

 diffuse white patches, one between eye and bill, the other some distance behind the eye. 

 Bill blackish; feet and legs dark flesh-color to brownish black; iris dark brown. 



Length 19.75 to 23 inches; wing 10.65 to 11.40; culmen 1.40 to 1.70. 



56. Surf Scoter. Oidemia perspicillata (Linn.). (166) 



Synonyms: Surf Duck, Surf Coot, Skunk-head Coot, Skunk-top. — Anas perspicillata, 

 Linn., 1758.— Fuligula perspicillata, Aud.— Pelionctta perspicillata, Reich., Baird, Ridgw. 



Figure 28. 



The male is known at once by its swollen bill, and uniform black plumage 

 except for a large white spot on the top of the head and another on the 

 nape, whence the name "Skunkhead"; the female is similar, but with no 

 white on the top or nape, but a "thumb-mark" of white at base of bill 

 on each side. No white on wings at any age. 



Distribution. — Coasts and larger inland waters of northern _ North 

 America; in winter south to Florida, the Ohio River, and San Quentin Bay, 

 Lower California. Accidental in Europe. 



