390 FEATHERED GAME 



and deeper, also the frontal process is not so 

 prominent as in the common species. She is 

 smaller and of less ruddy coloring than Mrs. 

 Dresseri, otherwise an exact replica of her 

 larger cousin. 



The male in the first year resembles the fe- 

 male; in the second he puts on a motley guise 

 like that of the common eider, and is supposed 

 to reach his third year before donning his per- 

 fect plumage, beautiful and striking, even more 

 so than that of the common eider. 



The nesting habits and mode of life are nearly 

 identical with those of the typical eider, and 

 there is little to be said of one species which 

 may not with equal truth be applied to the other. 

 This bird, however, nests much further north; 

 perhaps the most northern summer dweller 

 among the wildfowl. 



THE AMERICAN SCOTER. BUTTER- 

 BILLED COOT. 



(Oidemia americana.) 



Few of the many species of seafowl which 

 abound in New England's waters are so well 

 known, and probably none are so numerous 



