SURF SCOTER. 



This Coot is peculiar to North America and is found 

 from the Arctic Sea to Lower CaHfornia on the 

 Pacific, and to Florida on the Atlantic coast. It is also 

 met with on the Great Lakes, and through Illinois in win- 

 ter, to Missouri. In fact its dispersion is almost precisely 

 that of the White-winged Scoter. It breeds in similar 

 latitudes, from Labrador to the Arctic Ocean on the east- 

 ern part of the continent, and at Sitka, also at the mouths 

 of the Yukon, and about St. Michael's on the western side. 

 As it goes in summer to both sides of Behring Straits, 

 and to Norton and Kotzebue sounds, it may have other 

 breeding places farther north than those given. In win- 

 ter it is met with throughout the Aleutian Islands. The 

 nest is similar to that of the White-winged Scoter, and is 

 placed in like situations. The eggs, usually from five to 

 eight in number, are white with a pinkish tinge. Some- 

 times in the far north males of this species collect to- 

 gether in immense numbers, and Nelson tells of a flock 

 met with by him near Stewart Island, about ten miles 

 out to sea from St. Michael's, which formed a continuous 

 band around the outer end of the island for about ten 

 miles in length and from one-half to three-fourths of a 

 mile in width. As he drew near to this great mass the 

 birds close to him began to rise, and their movements 

 were imitated by those ahead of them until soon the 

 entire mighty host of birds rose with the " roar of a cata- 

 ract," and in a great black cloud swept out to sea, and 



