714 SYSTEM A Tic SYNOPSIS. — LA MELLIBOSTRES — ANSERES. 



Fig. 496. — Female Black Scoter. (Ad iiat. del. K. C.) 



ground, in June, July. (N.B. The upper fig. 496 shows extent of feathers under bUl — to 

 first acute angle from the left — and shape of mandibular rami, reaching to next obtuse 

 reentrancc.) 



(E. fus'ca. (Lat. fusca, dusky ; adult $ is black.) Velvet Scoter. White-winged 



SuKF Duck. Sea 

 Coot. Bill, etc., as 

 above. Adult ^ : Plu- 

 mage black, paler be- 

 low ; a white speculum, 

 formed by most of the 

 secondaries and tips of 

 greater coverts ; a small 

 white spot under eye. 

 Iris yellow. Feet or- 

 ange or carmine - red, 

 with black webs. Young 

 (J resembles 9- 9 • 

 Bill less bulging, en- 

 tirely dark ; eyes and 

 feet as before, less 

 bright. Sooty -brown, pale grayish below, but retaining the white speculum ; whitish on head 

 tending to form loral and auricular spots, as in 739,*not 737. Largest: length 19.00-22.00 ; 

 extent about 36.00; wing 11.00-12.00; bill along gape 2.50 or more; tarsus about 2.00; 

 middle toe and claw 3.50. 9<<?. Said to differ from European in greater encroachment 

 of feathers on bill; but the ascribed feature is not tangible (var. velvetina). N. Am. at 

 large, chiefly coastwise; also on large inland waters; abundant. Winters in U. S., breeds 

 in high latitudes. 

 CE. perspicilla'ta. (Lat. ^^ersjtjjciZZato, conspicuous, spectacular. Fig. 497-) SuRF DuCK. 



Sea Coot. Adult ^ : 



Bill, etc., as above, ^'^^SI^^Xv^^^JX^WTTTT 

 singularly variegated 

 in color, mostly white 

 or pinkish, and or- 

 ange, with a great 

 round or squarish 

 black spot on side 

 near base; iris pale 

 yellow; feet orange, 

 with dusky webs. Plu- 

 mage glossy black, 

 duller below ; no white 

 on wings, but a tri- 

 angular white patch 

 on forehead, pointing 

 forward, reaching to 



or beyond opposite eye, and another on nape, pointing downward. Young ^ resembles 9 , 

 before the bill acquires distinctive shape and color. 9 : Bill blackish, not tumid, feathers of 

 culmen restricted, not reaching opposite nostrils; feet dark, tinged with reddish, the webs black- 

 ish. Plumage sooty-brown, below silvery-gray; side of head with much whitish, chiefly in two 

 patches, loral and auricular ; no frontal or nuchal white. Length 18.00-21.00; extent 31.00- 



FiG. 497. —Bill oi young c? Surf Duck, nat. size. (Ad iiat. del. E. C.) 



