OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 419 



Genus (EDEMIA, or Scoters. 



Type, (EDEMIA NIGEA. 



CEdemia, of Fleming* (1822). The Scoters are distinguished by their 

 uniformly coloured primaries, and by the uniform black plumage in the males 

 and brown unbarred plumage in the females. There can be no doubt that these 

 birds are as fully entitled to generic distinction as any other group in the present 

 family, notwithstanding the fact that colour is always a more or less unsatisfactory 

 character and should be avoided as far as possible. 



There are at present six species of Scoters recognised by ornithologists. 

 These are distributed over the northern portions of the Palaearctic and Nearctic 

 regions, their range becoming more southerly in winter. Three species are 

 British, two of them being indigenous, and a third an abnormal migrant to our 

 Islands. 



The Scoters are thoroughly marine in their habits. Their flight is noisy and 

 powerful. They keep well out to sea, rarely visiting the land except to breed. 

 They are all more or less migratory, and exceptionally gregarious during passage 

 and in winter. Their notes are harsh and unmusical. Their food, obtained by 

 diving, is chiefly of an animal character, crustaceans, mollusks, fry, and insects. 

 They are monogamous, making their rude but down-lined nests on the ground. 

 Their eggs are numerous, and various shades of greyish-buff in colour. 



* Spelt Oidemia. 



