SURF SCOTER. 



AN SERES. 



481 



A NAT ID Jf. 



(Edemia perspicillata (Linnaeus*). 



THE SURF SCOTER. 



Oidemia perspicillata. 



The Surf Scoter is a North American species which 

 has heen ohtained, as a straggler, a good many times on the 

 shores of our islands ; and it is probable that its occurrences, 

 especially on the western side, are not so rare as was formerly 

 supposed. The earliest mention appears to be by the late 

 Mr. Blyth, who wrote in 1838, in Neville Wood's 'NaturaHst' 

 (vol. iii. p. 420), that " a few seasons ago Mr. Bartlett 

 received a recent Surf Scoter for the purpose of stuffing " ; 

 and from that specimen the Author derived the measure- 

 ments here given and some further particulars. Mr. Wil- 

 liam Thompson of Weymouth informed the Author that a 



* Anas perspicillata, Linnicus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 201 (1706). 

 VOL. IV. 3 Q 



