CEDEMIA NIGBA 219 



(EDEMIA FUSCA (LiunEeus). 

 VELVET-SCOTEE. 



Anas fusca, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 196 (1766) ; Malherbe, Cat. Bais. 



cVOis. Alg. p. 23 (1846). 

 OEdemia fusca, Bonap. Cat. Met. Ucc. Eur. p. 73, No. -447 (1842) ; 



Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xsvii, p. 406. 

 Melanetta fusca, Loclic, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 384 (1867) ; Kocnig, 



J. f. 0. 1893, p. 9.5. 

 Oidemia fusca, Koenig, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 285. 



JJcscrijjtion. — Adult male, wiater, from Italy. 



Entire plumage velvety-black, the uaderparts rather duller ; a small 

 patch immediately below the eye and a large alar speculum v?hite. 



Iris brown ; bill, which is considerably swollen at the base, has this 

 portion black, the remainder being orange-yellow ; feet dull reddish. 



Total length 22 inches, wing 11, culmen 1-90, tarsus 1'60. 



Adult female, general colour blackish-brown, the feathers of the under- 

 parts with pale margins ; a whitish patch in front of the eye, and another 

 behind it. 



According to Blanc the Velvet-Scoter occurs occasionally in Tunisia 

 in winter, and he informs me that he has obtained an example of it 

 even in spring. The species, hovpever, must be rare in the Regency, 

 and is probably merely an accidental visitor in severe seasons. Loche 

 states that it is to be rarely found on the Algerian coasts in winter. 



This northern species, when visiting the Mediterranean in winter, 

 frequents the sea-coast and salt-water estuaries, and is generally found 

 in flocks. Its flight is powerful and swift, and it swims and dives 

 well. It feeds chiefly on shell-fish. 



(EDEMIA NIGRA (Linnasus). 



COMMON SCOTER. 



JSnas nigra, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 196 (1766) ; Malherbe, Fauna Orn. de 



I'Alg. p. 37 (1855). 

 (Edemia nigra, Bonap. Gat. Met. Ucc. Eur. p. 73, No. 448 (1842) ; 



Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii, p. 401. 

 Oidemia nigra, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois, ii, p. 386 (1867) ; Kocnig, 



J.J. 0. 1888, p. 285; id. J.f. 0. 1893, p. 95. 



