334 SWIMMERS. 



WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. 



WHITE-WINGED COOT. SEA COOT. VELVET SCOTER. 

 OlDEMIA DEGLANDI. 



Char. Male : black, with a broad band of white on the wings, and a 

 small patch of white under the eyes ; knob on bill black, rest of bill and 

 legs orange. Female : sooty brown, paler below ; head more or less 

 varied with white ; wing-patch white ; bill and legs blackish. Length 

 20 to 23 inches. 



Nest. On the bank of a lake or sluggish stream, concealed at the foot 

 of a low tree or bush, — made of coarse herbage and moss, lined with 

 feathers ; sometimes lined with down. 



Eggs. 6-9 (usually 6) ; pale dull buff, varying to delicate cream color; 

 2.70 X 1.85. 



The White-winged Scoter might be characterized as a Sea Duck 

 that retires inland to breed. It occurs in summer, and builds from 

 about latitude 50° to the fur countries, and winters on the Massa- 

 chusetts coast and south to Chesapeake Bay. Some few individuals 

 are found in winter on the Great Lakes. 



The habits of these birds do not differ from others of the group. 

 Their principal food is mollusks, which they obtain by diving, 

 generally in deep water ; and they are most active at night, float- 

 ing on the water asleep during a great part of the day. Their note 

 is a harsh ker-ker. 



Note. — The European Velvet Duck {Oidemia fused) 

 wanders occasionally to the coasts of Greenland. 



RUDDY DUCK. 

 spine-tailed duck. broad-bill duck. dipper duck. 



Erismatura rubida. 



Char. Bill long and very wide at the end and deep at the base ; tail- 

 feathers stiff and pointed. Male in summer : upper parts rich chestnut ; 

 crown and nape black ; cheeks and chin white ; rump and wing-coverts 

 grayish brown ; wings and tail dusky ; under parts silvery white, shaded 

 with dusky; bill and feet bluish. Male in winter, young male, and 

 female : upper parts dull grayish brown, varied with dull buff, top of 

 head darker; cheeks and chin dull white; neck brownish gray ; lower 

 parts grayish white ; bill and feet dusky. Length about 15 inches. 



