212 DUCK SHOOTING. 



many inland lakes. On the Pacific coast it ranges from 

 the Arctic to Southern California and on the Atlantic 

 at least as far south as the Chesapeake Bay. Mr. Au- 

 dubon, on the other hand, says that the scoter ranges 

 along the entire southern coast and that it is found as 

 far south as the Mississippi River. 



On its southward migration the scoter reaches 

 Southern New England late in September, and often in 

 open winters remains there through the whole season, 

 taking its departure for the North in May. When, 

 however, the weather is cold, and the shore blocked 

 with ice, it moves further southward to open feeding 

 grounds, returning northward as the ice disappears. 



Alaskan travelers have found this species as far 

 north as Norton Sound, where it breeds, as well as on 

 the east coast of Labrador, This species, with other 

 scoters, also breeds in some of our inland lakes, nests 

 of these birds having been found on some of the larger 

 lakes in Dakota and the birds having been seen in abun- 

 dance on the Yellowstone Lake, in Wyoming, all 

 through the summer. 



The scoter on the New England coast is usually 

 found associated with the white-winged and the surf 

 scoters, which commonly outnumber it in the flocks. 



All these scoters are characterized by curiously swol- 

 len and more or less hollow bills, which are highly col- 

 ored. All of them are known along the eastern sea- 

 board as "coots." 



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