76 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



on the ground, near water ; the material used being coarse grass, feath- 

 ers and down. The nests are often well secreted in the cliffs and hol- 

 lows about steep banks. 



This Duck is called Sea Coot, Butter-billed and Hollow-billed 

 Coot. The plumage of the adult male is entirely black, and the top of 

 the bill orange ; the color of the female is sooty-brown, becoming paler 

 below. It is much smaller than the male. This Duck, like many 

 others in winter, is sometimes found in great numbers along the entire 

 Atlantic coast. Its food is principally small bivalves, which it secures 

 by diving. 



The eggs are said to range from six to ten in number. They are 

 of a pale dull buff, or pale brownish-buff, and measure 2.55X 1.80. 



[164.] Oidemia fusca (LINN.) [631.] 



Velvet Scoter. 



Hab. Northern Old World: accidental in Alaska and Greenland. 



This fine sea duck belongs to the Old World. It is a winter visit- 

 ant on the coasts of England ; a few specimens have been obtained at 

 different times in the London markets. It is recorded as having been 

 taken as far south as Italy. On the Orkney and Shetland Islands it is 

 said to be common. Found in Norway, Sweden and Scandinavia. 

 Said to be abundant everywhere in Lapland, where it nests on hum- 

 mocks, among the willow swamps, in long grass near water, or by the 

 edges of large lakes in mountain districts. 



The eggs are of a pale cream color, and measure 2.87 x 1.92. 



165. Oidemia deglandi BONAP. [632.] 



White-winged Scoter. 



Hab. Northern North America, breeding in Labrador and the Fur Countries; south to the Middle 

 States, Southern Illinois, and Southern California. 



Like the Velvet Scoter, O. fusca of the Old World, the American 

 bird is eminently a sea-duck, resorting, however, mainly to inland 

 waters during the breeding season. Its summer home is in the Arctic 

 regions. Found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and as far south 

 as the Middle States in the spring, fall and winter. It breeds on many 

 of the lakes, rivers and larger bodies of water in Manitoba. 



The " White-winged Coot," "Sea Coot," " Black Surf Duck," or 

 Velvet Duck, as it is variously called, has been found breeding quite 

 abundantly on the Lower Anderson river, constructing the nest on the 

 ground near fresh water. The nests contain a lining of down and 

 feathers. Audubon found it breeding in Labrador from the ist to the 

 loth of June. The nests were built by the side of small lakes, two or 

 three miles distant from the sea, and usually placed under low bushes ; 



