146 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



68 [166] Oidemia perspicillata (Linn.). 

 Surf Scoter; "Skunk-head"; "Gray Coot." 



Very abundant transient visitor, common in winter ; (summer) ; September 

 4 to June 4. 



This is the most common of the three Scoters and its habits as well as the 

 characteristics of Scoters in general have already been discussed under the 

 American Scoter. 



The Surf Scoter is easily recognized in the full adult male plumage, when 

 he is commonly known as Skunk-head. He is glossy black with swollen yellow 

 and scarlet bill, a white spot on the forehead, and a larger one on the nape. 

 The female and young bird, called by gunners Gray Coot (although this name is 

 also applied at times to the immature White-winged Scoter), are grayish brown 

 and have two white spots on the side of the head, one at the base of the bill, the 

 other behind the eye. These are generally equally distinct, while in the White- 

 wing the patch at the base of the bill is usually faint. In the immature birds 

 there are often traces to be seen of a white spot on the nape. 



69 [167] Erismatura jamaicensis (Gmel). 

 Ruddy Duck. 



Common transient visitor ; spring; September 30 to December i. 



The Ruddy Duck is rarely seen on the ocean and salt creeks, and I have 

 no record of its being shot in the smaller waterways of the fresh marshes, for 

 it prefers the deep-water ponds. Here singly and in small or large flocks, their 

 tameness or stupidity make them the mark of the gunner, but their capacity for 

 diving at the flash makes them difficult to secure. A flock can sometimes be 

 closely approached by a boat and all killed. At other times a flock may con- 

 tinue feeding undisturbed by shots fired at other Ducks not far off. When pur- 

 sued they often sink themselves low in the water, but at other times they gener- 

 ally ride buoyantly. 



Their small size and chunky build and especially the shape of the head with 

 its low forehead and thick neck make them easy to recognize. They also cock 

 their tails into the air in a characteristic way — a capital diagnostic mark, — but 

 it is to be remembered that they do not always do this, and also that the Scoters 



