LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS 



[164.] Velvet S< oter. Oidemia fusca. 



An Old World species that has accidentally oc- 

 curred in Greenland. 



165. White-winged Scoter. Oidemia deglandi 



Range. Abundant in North America, breeding 

 from Labrador, North Dakota and British Colum- 

 bia, northward. Wintering south to the Middle 

 States, southern Illinois and southern California. 



The largest of the Scoters, length 22 inches, 

 distinguished by a large white speculum on the 

 wing, also a white comet extending from under 

 the eye backwards. It also lias a yellow eye. 

 Like the other Scoters, this species often feed 

 in very deep water. They are strong, active div- 

 ing birds, and are also strong on the wing, gen- 

 erally flying close to the surface of the water. 

 Their flesh is not regarded as good eating, al- 

 though they are often sold for that purpose. They 

 nest on the ground, generally in long grass or 

 under low bushes making a coarse nest of 

 grasses, and sometimes twigs, lined with feathers. 

 They lay from five to eight eggs of a pale buff 

 color. Size 2.75 x 1.85. 



I ()(i. Surf Scoter. Oidemia perspicillata. 



Range. — Northern North America, breeding 

 north of the United States boundary, and winter- 

 ing south to Virginia and southern California. 



The male of this species is entirely black, ex- 

 cept for the white patches on the forehead and 

 nape, and the varicolored bill of black, white, 

 pink and yellow. They nest either along the 

 coast or in the interior, building a nest lined 

 with down, in the marsh grass bordering small ponds. They lay from five to 

 eighl bully cream colored eggs. Size 2.40x1.70. The females of all the 

 Scoters are a dingj brownish color, but show the characteristic marking of the 

 species, although the white is generally dull or sometimes mottled. Data. — 

 Mackenzie River, June 25, L894. Six eggs in a nest of down on an island in the 

 river. 



Surf Si ot< r 



White- winged Scoti r 



105 



