514 ANATID^E. 



and when diving remain a long time under water. Their 

 food consists of mussels and other shell-fish, in quest of 

 which they often ascend the creeks and arms of the sea, 

 but they are rarely seen in fresh water. 



The flesh of the Black Duck is said to be oily and 

 fishy; on this account it is in some Roman Catholic 

 countries classed with fish, and allowed to be eaten 

 during Lent. In some parts of the Continent, where 

 it is consequently in demand, fishermen take advantage 

 of its diving propensities, and spread their nets over 

 the mussel banks to which they have observed that 

 these birds resort, and capture them in large numbers. 

 The nest of the Scoter is described as being like that 

 of the Eider Duck, and similarly located. The female 

 also covers her eggs with down from her own breast, but 

 in smaller quantities. 



THE SURF SCOTER. 



OIDEMIA PBRSPICILLATA. 



A bony protuberance on each side of the bill near the base; no speculum; 

 general plumage black; on the forehead and nape a patch of white ; bill 

 yellow, with a square black spot on each side near the base ; irides white ; 

 feet red, the membranes black. In the female the black is replaced by dark 

 ash-brown, and the white by light grey ; bill dark olive ; feet brown, with black 

 membranes. Length twenty inches. Eggs white. 



ONLY a few specimens of this bird have been obtained in 

 Europe, and these probably had been driven eastward by 

 storms from North America, where alone they are found 

 in any numbers. In habits and food the Surf Scoter 

 resembles the common species, deriving its name from the 

 pertinacity with which it selects, as its feeding-ground, a 

 sandy beach over which surf rolls. It rarely or never 

 visits the salt marshes. 



