SURF SCOTER. 203 



completely under a steamer and appearing on the other 

 side. 



As the weather increases in severity during the winter 

 the Surf Scoters move southward, coming gradually 

 northward as spring approaches, and by the month of 

 May they are well on their way toward their northern 

 breeding grounds. This species has straggled south as 

 far as Bermuda, and there are two records of its appear- 

 ance in that island, and it has also occasionally been cap- 

 tured in Europe, but these are merely wanderers from 

 their fellows and native land, blown off their route pos- 

 sibly by some storm. The Surf Scoter has many trivial 

 names, and is known as the Hollow-billed Coot, Skunk 

 Head Coot, Spectacle Coot, Spectacle Duck, Surf Duck, 

 Horse Head Coot, Bay Coot, Butterboat-billed Coot, etc.; 

 while the females and young are called Gray Coot and 

 Brown Coot. Although none of the Coots can be called 

 handsome Ducks, yet the peculiar markings of the head, 

 and the bright coloring of the bill of the present species, 

 almost entitles it to that epithet. As an article of food the 

 Surf Scoter is not generally much sought after, as its 

 flesh is tough and fishy, but Turner says that in Alaska 

 those obtained among the Aleutian Islands were very 

 good indeed, and if well prepared the flesh was free from 

 all strong odors. I am inclined to think that perhaps the 

 absence of dishes obtainable in more southern climes, 

 and the presence of an appetite excited by much open- 

 air exercise, had a great deal to do with this opinion, for 

 in the United States few people care to dine on Coot. 



(EDEMIA PERSPICILLATA. 



Geographical Distribution. Northern North America, from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and on the large inland 

 waters. Going south in winter to Florida on the east coast; the 



