280 Miller, Classification of the Scoters. [jjjy 



the length of tarsus; graduated for decidedly more than one-half 

 its length, and for considerably more than length of tarsus; con- 

 sisting of sixteen feathers, which are narrow and conspicuously 

 pointed. Plumage in the adult male wholly black (but much 

 paler on inner webs of primaries) ; in immature birds of both sexes 

 the upper half of the head is dark brown, the lower half whitish. 

 Feet and nail of both mandibles black. Iris dark brown. 



Melanitta. — Bill larger, commissure longer than inner toe with 

 claw; basal half of maxilla much enlarged both above and laterally, 

 the swelling more or less extensively feathered either on top or 

 sides; outline of facial feathering strongly angled. 



Tenth (outer) primary normal, longer than the eighth. Tail 

 relatively shorter, decidedly less than twice length of tarsus; 

 graduated for less than one-half its length, and for less than length 

 of tarsus; consisting of fourteen feathers, which are rather broad 

 and moderately short-pointed. 



Plumage in the adult male black variegated with white; in 

 immature birds of both sexes the head is dark brown with two white 

 blotches on each side. Feet red, nail of both mandibles yellow. 

 Iris white. 



In comparison of bill with inner toe, the claw is included in 

 measurement of latter contrary to the diagnoses in the British 

 Museum Catalogue and Ridgway's Manual, as it is found that in 

 true Oidemia the length of the commissure instead of being much 

 less than inner toe, without claw, as stated in these works, is scarcely 

 if at all less. 



Pclionctfa differs conspicuously from Melanitta in the form of the 

 bill, the lateral swelling being more developed and wholly bare, 

 and the sides of the maxilla tapering instead of widening to the tip. 

 The outer primary is decidedly narrower than the very broad outer 

 remex of Melanitta and the tail is distinctly longer and more gradu- 

 ated, there being in both of these characters an obvious approach 

 to Oidemia. 



The differences between Oidemia and Melanitta (including 

 Pelionetta) enumerated above are certainly of as great taxonomic- 

 value as those on which Lophodytes, Arctonetta, Nomonyx and 

 C haritonetta are based; and if these are maintained the old genus 

 Oidemia must be dismembered. Whether Pelionetta should be 



