I 72 Trumbull on the Scoters. [April 



line of black 1 ; black of lower mandible continued broadly along lateral 

 edges to the front, the rami wholly black to within about .40 inch of the 

 nail. Feet: outer side approaching unevenly the color of more mature 

 male E ; the inner side still as in the younger males. 



E. 2 Plumage much more black than brown, the head, neck', wings, rump 

 and tail coverts almost wholly black; lower surface of body much darker 

 (than in D), more glossy and of a still more uniform brown; eye-patch 

 considerably more extended, but not yet snowy white ; nostrils more cir- 

 cular; iris cleanly white. Feet: outer side pinkish vinaceous, sometimes 

 brighter or between rose pink and peach blossom pink; the inner side as 

 in the adult male. 



Other specimens, shot Oct. 23 and 27, are similar to these, but the lower 

 surface of the body is of a lighter and less rich brown; the eye-patch more 

 nearly perfect. 



F. 3 Very near maturity; the black (of plumage) almost uniform; a few 

 scapulars and interscapulars tipped with brown; lower surface of body in- 

 clining still to brown (blackish brown) ; eye-patch nearly or quite perfect; 

 eye continuously edged with white; speculum not yet immaculate, but 

 tips of greater coverts practically clean, and only a few of the secondaries 

 showing duskiness. Bill (fig.- 10) more cleanly bright than before, the 

 black only partially separating the white from the side color and less 

 obtrusive elsewhere. Feet: outer side pale (somewhat 'milky') wine- 

 purple, inclining to a warmer or orange tint here and there; inner 

 side rufous or between rufous and vinaceous rufous, and sometimes 

 brighter, or of a slightly pinkish shade of coral red. 



One of these nearly mature males, though so nearly all black, is con- 

 spicuously speckled with pale buff on the front of the head (or forehead, 

 forepart of crown, and lores), and the knob of the bill (fig. 11) is also 

 somewhat different from any of the others. 



In the case of a number of drakes shot Oct. i8and 21, which are still 

 more fully perfected than the above, the lower surface of the body inclines 

 to gray instead of brown, and is scatteringly flecked with dull white. 



Among other interesting facts in this development is the turn- 

 ing light of certain portions while passing from one phase to 

 another. For example: the plumage of the male, which is at 

 first (A) almost uniformly blackish brown, does not mature ;is 

 one might expect it to do, by growing steadily blacker and 



1 These narrow lines of black (which disappear a*s the bird matures) are mentioned 

 in one of our ornithological works as characteristic of the bill of O. ///sea, and as not 

 found on the bill of O. deglandi. 



' 2 Described from specimens killed April 21 and May 3. 



1 Described from specimens killed April 21 and May 3 and 4. 



