ZOOLOGY. 263 



of forehead do not extend one-third the distance from base to tip of bill ; the middle of nostril not quite as far as the middle of 

 the bill; nostrils linear, acutely pointed anteriorly. 



Color brown; lighter on the neck. Sides and beneath the under surface of the body whitish. An obscure whitish patch at 

 the base of the bill, and another on the side of the head behind the eyes. 



Length of male, 19.U0 to 20.00 ; wing, 9.40; extent, 33; tarsus, r.63 ; commissure, 2.37. 



Hab. — On and near the seacoast of North America, quite far south in winter. Accidental in Europe. 



A fine alhino specimen of this duck is in the collection of Mr. F. Gruber, at San Francisco. 



The sea coot is quite common in winter on Puget Sound, where it frequents the same localities 

 as the preceding species, and has much the same habits as elsewhere. I obtained several 

 specimens at Fort Steilacoom. — S. 



The surf duck or spectacled scoter frequents the same situations as the preceding in 

 winter. — C. 



OIDEMIA AMERICANA, S w a i n s o n . 



Scoter. 



Anea nigra, Wilson, Am. Om. VIII, 1814, 13.i, pi Ixxii. Not of Linnaeus. 

 Anas {Puligula) nigra, Bon. Obs. Wilson, 18^5, No. 267. 

 FuligvXa (Oidemia) nigra, Bon. Syn. 1828, 390. 



Oidemia americana, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 450. — Bos. List, 1838. — Baird, Gen Eep. Birds, 807. 

 Fuligula americana AuD. Om Biog. V. 1839, 117 ; pi 408.— Ib, Syn. 290.— In Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 343; pi. 403. 

 Sp. Ch — ilah. — Tail of sixteen feathers. Bill much swollen on the basal third ; the basal portion of culmen convex and 

 rapidly descending; the terminal portion of bill much depressed; the anterior extremity of nostrils halfway from the lateral or 

 upper feathers at the base of bill to the tip. The swelling at base of bill divided by a furrow along the median line. The frontal 

 feathers extend slightly forward in an obtuse point. Bill of female not very dissimilar, lacking the swelling at the base. 



Color entirely black all over, without any white. Bill black along the edges and tip ; the swollen basal portion red to beyond 

 the nostrils. 



Female. — Brown ; lighter on sides of head, throat, and under surface of body, where the feathers have each an obscure dusky 

 spot. 

 Length, 23.80; wing, 9.20; tarsus, 1.78; commissure, 2.14. 

 Hab. — Seacoast of North America. 



The American scoter is less common than the other kinds, and has the same habits. — C. 



The scoters generally arrive from the north in the baj's and inlets of Puget Sound about 

 October 1, remaining in greater or less numbers throughout the winter. Their flight is low, 

 labored, and heavy ; their journeys appearing to be carried on, for the most part, by short 

 stages. In these characteristics they resemble closely the two preceding species. They also 

 are excessively fat in winter, and have a disagreeable, strong odor, and fishy taste. A specimen 

 obtained by me at Fort Steilacoom is now in the Smithsonian collection, marked 4,574. — S. 



Sub-family MERGINAE. The Sheldrakes. 



MERGUS AMERICANUS, C a s s i n . 



Goosander; SUeldrake j Flsli Ducic* 



Mergus merganser Wils. Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 68; pi. Ixviii.— Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 461.— Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 

 460.— AuD. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838, 261; pi. 331.— Ib. Syn. 1839, 297.— Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 

 387; pi. 411. 



Mergua amerieanus, Cassu.-, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI, 1853, 187. — Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, 81.3. 



Merganser castor, var. A. amerieanus, Bon. Comptes Rendus, XLIII, 1856. 

 Sp. Ch. — Feathers of the forehead extending on the bill in an acute angle for half the distance between those on the sides 



