VELVET SCOTER. 



(ED EM I A FUSCA. 



Geographical Distribution.— l^oxW\Qr\\ portions of the Old 

 World. Occasional in Greenland and Alaska. 



Adult Male. — General plumage, uniform velvety black. Ej'e- 

 lids and spot under eyes, white. Speculum formed by tips of 

 greater coverts and secondaries, white. Bill, orange, much 

 elevated at base, with a black line running obliquely from nostril 

 to the nail. Iris, white. Legs and feet, dark red, or crimson; 

 webs, black. Total length, about 22 inches; wing, 11; culmen, 

 i,^; tarsus, i^V 



Adult Female. — A spot near base of maxilla, and one near the 

 ear, and also the secondaries, white. General plumage, brown- 

 ish gray, with pale edges on the back and scapulars. Under 

 parts, sooty gray; feathers, edged with whitish. Bill, dusky. 

 Legs and feet, similar in color to those of male, but paler. 



Downy Young. — Resembles those of (E. americana, but has 

 a white spot on the wings, and the belly white. 



