118 . SEA DUCKS. 



Labrador and the northern interior; south in winter to Virginia, the Great 

 Lakes, and California. 



Washington, casual W. V. Long Island, common W. V., Oct. through 

 Apl. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. Cambridge, occasional in fall. 



Nest, on the ground, near water. Eggs^ " six to ten, pale dull buff' or pale 

 brownish buff", 2-55 x 1-80" (Kidgw.). 



All three species of Surf Scoters, or " Coots," are abundant winter 

 residents off the coasts of the New England and northern Middle 

 States. At this time their habits are practically alike — indeed, they 

 are often found associated. As a rule, they frequent only the sea 

 and its estuaries, where they live over beds of mussels, clams, or 

 scallops, which they obtain by diving ; but they are sometimes found 

 in ponds near the coast, where food of this nature is abundant. 



In The Auk for 1891, pp. 379-290, Mr. George H. Mackay gives the 

 results of a long-continued study of Scoters on the Massachusetts 

 coast. 



The Velvet Scoter {16I^. Oidemia fusca) is an Old- World species which 

 has been recorded from Greenland. 



165* Oidemia deg'laiidi Bonap. White-winged Scoter; White- 

 winged Coot. Ad. $, . — A spot below the eye and the speculum white^ rest 

 of the plumage black ; bill orange-black at the base, the feathers on it reach- 

 ing forward far beyond the corners of the mouth. Im. $ . — Grayish or fus- 

 cous-brown, lighter below ; speculum wliite., feathers at the base of the upper 

 bill and a spot on the ears whitish. Ad. in tvivter and Im. 9 . — Similar to 

 the preceding, but generally without whitish spots on the head. L., 22-00 ; 

 W., 11-00 ; Tar., 2-00 ; B. along culmen, 1-50 ; B. along side, 1-55. 



^emarfc.— The white speculum and feathering of the bill will always 

 serve to distinguish this species from its allies. 



B,ange.—'^m\X\cxx\ North America, breeding in Labrador and the fur 

 countries ; south in winter to Virginia, southern Illinois, and California. 



Washington, casual W. V., Oct. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., 

 Sept. 15 to May 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, occa- 

 sional in fall. 



Nest, on the ground, beneath bus^^s, frequently some distance from water. 

 Eggs, " six to ten, pale dull buif, varying to cream-color, 2-68 x 1-83 " (Ridgw.). 



166. Oidemia perspicillata {Linn.^. Surf Scoter; Sea Coot. 

 j^d. 6 .—A square mark on the crown and a triangular one on the nape white, 

 rest of the plumage black ; bill orange-yellow, a large circular black spot on 

 its side at the base ; feathers on the culmen extending nearly to a level with 

 the nostril, feathers on the side of the bill not extending forward. Ad. 9 

 and M.—A. whitish spot at the base of the bill and on the ears ; upper parts 

 fuscous brown ; throat, breast, sides, and lower belly grayer, belly white. L., 

 20-00 ; W., 9-30 ; Tar., 1-fiO ; B. along culmen, 1-55; B. along side, 2-30. 



Remarks.— 'VhQ forward extension of the feathers on the culmen will 



