146 SEA FOWL IN NOVA SCOTIA—GILPIN. 
I note a surf scoter (O perspitiata), a young male, as early as 
August 8, 1879, shot at Digby, evidently a young bird of the 
year’s; a very early date. From this date to November, the 
surf scoter, the velvet scoter (O fusea) and yellow-billed or bot- 
tle-nosed scoter (O americana) come flying in the Bay of Fundy 
in small flocks, and remain all winter. I have never noticed the 
black scoter (O nigra), though given in Wilson, Nuttall and 
Baird. The American student must feel obliged to Dr. Coues 
for returning these species to one genus, and in studying their 
common habits, forms, and especially common colour, and pro- 
tuberance at base of bills, wonder how any naturalist, either 
cabinet or field, could ever have divided them into two or three 
genera. The old wife, or old squaw, comes to us about the same 
dates with these, and is often seen in company, either flying or 
pressed to a lee shore by heavy weather, sitting upon the waters. 
The eiders come in rather later, but are sometimes numerous in 
Spring. Whilst the semi-annual Fall migration of these sea 
duck are scarcely noticed, except by naturalists and gunners, 
whilst in the pursuit of food or warmer seas, they seem leisurely 
to fill our shores and pass our rocky promontries, whilst some 
remain all winter, seemingly, as we are unable to say they. may 
not be successive flocks in passing, the returning Spring seems 
to awake new thoughts and new feelings in all these migratory 
fowl. Sometimes in February, oftener during March, the garrots 
cease their perpetual diving; the males, with tumid heads and 
throats, and more brilliant and purple green reflections, swim in 
restless circles around the sombre female which, half buried in 
water, with extended neck and flattened body, evade his ap- 
proach. The glass-like water is thrown into mimic surf by their 
play. Or the male throws his purple head far backward till it 
rests upon his back, and a short shrill ery comes across the water 
from his upturned bill. The old wives, a little seaward, are play- 
ing the same antics, and a prolonged note, much like a distant 
bell-buoy, directs you to the male, with creamy and pouty head, 
long snowy axillaries falling athwart a velvet black back, and 
long tail carried straight and high, is circling around his greyish 
mates. The coloured gentry in these magic reels, the scoters, 
