THE BLACK SCOTER 



OIDEMIA NIGRA. 



General plumage deep black ; quills dusky brown on the inner web, glossy 

 grey beneath ; disk of the upper mandible orange-yellow ; protuberance at 

 the base black ; no speculum on the wings. Female General plumage brown 

 of several shades ; bill without the protuberance ; nostrils, and a spot towards 

 the tip, yellowish. Length eighteen inches. Eggs pale buff. 



THIS bird is well known along the eastern coast of England 

 under the name of Black Duck. Although a few scattered 

 specimens have been observed from time to time during 

 summer, it has not been known to breed in the British 

 Isles, but must be considered as a winter visitant only. 

 Being the only entirely black Duck which frequents our 

 shores, it is easily distinguished among other species by 

 its colour alone. Small parties of these birds may occa- 

 sionally be seen on different parts of the coast, swimming 

 and diving at a short distance outside the surf, or flying, 

 three or four together, at an elevation of a few feet above 

 the surface of the sea. They fly rapidly in a straight line, 

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