142 



MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB. 



coast, and I have also heard it called " Canvasback." It is a sea bird, keeping 

 generally well off the coast. One was killed against the light at Thatcher's 

 Island, on April 10th, 1901. A flock of these birds is said to be found every 

 winter off Milk Island near the end of Cape Ann. They have diminished to 

 about a dozen of late years. They were also said to be common off Marble- 

 head in winter, but are rarely seen there now. 



I have talked with a number of old gunners on Cape Ann and they all 

 agree that this Duck has greatly diminished in numbers during the last twenty 

 years. The Eiders used to feed in great flocks near the Salvages, coming in at 

 daylight and drifting off to sea at night. Gunners used to lie in wait for them 

 on these rocks with wooden decoys set out. At times, now, they are reported 

 to be common during the migrations. I have never been so fortunate as to 

 see them off the Essex County coast, but my informants, who are familiar 

 with the birds, agree on the above statements. 



65 [162] Somateria spectabilis (Linn.). 

 King Eider. 



Very rare winter visitor ; November 24 to . 



There is one specimen of this bird in the Peabody Academy collection, 

 labeled Marblehead, November 24th, 1889. 



66 [163] Oidemia americana Swains. 

 American Scoter; Black Scoter; " Butterbill" ; "Black Coot." 



Common transient and winter visitor ; (summer) ; September 8 to May 24. 



The three species of Scoter are universally known as Coot along our coast, 

 although differing very much from the large Rail or Mud-hen, — Fulica — to 

 which the name Coot properly belongs. According to Newton, 1 the names 

 Coot and Scoter may be derived from the same French word Escoutc, although 

 possibly derived from the Dutch Koet. The same confusion of terms is found 

 in France, Macreuse meaning in the south of France a Rail, and in the north of 



1 Alfred Newton : Dictionary of Birds, p. 817, 1893-96. 





