292 WATER FOWL. 



found in both hemispheres in northern latitudes. A fifth species, 

 CE. car bo, Pall., may possibly occur in Alaska, its proper habitat 

 being Northeastern Asia, but as yet no specimens have been pro- 

 cured within the boundaries of North America. One species, the 

 Velvet Scoter, attributed to the New World, is really a native of 

 the Eastern Hemisphere, and only claims a place in our avi- 

 fauna by the accidental appearance of individuals in Greenland, 

 evidently stragglers from the regular route during migration. 

 The flesh of these Ducks is tough and fishy, to be carefully 

 avoided whenever served at table. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Maxilla more or less swollen at base. 



a. Plumage of male black with white 

 patches on front and back of head. Black 

 spot on swollen base of maxilla. 



b. Entire plumage of male deep black. 



a'. No speculum. 



b' . Speculum white. 



a". Swollen lateral basal part of maxilla ) VELVET SCOTER. 



bare. > (E.fusca. 



b". Swollen lateral basal part of maxilla ) WHITE-WINGED 



feathered. \ SCOTER ' 



' CE. deglandi.^ 



c" . A white spot at base of maxilla and 

 one near ear. 



a". Upper parts brownish gray. J- 



[WHITE-WINGED 

 SCOTER. 

 CE. deglandi. $ 



GENUS ARCTONETTA 

 (Greek UpKTog, arktos, a bear -|- vtrra, netta, a duck). 



Arctonetta, G. R. Gray. Proc. Zool. Soc , 1855, p. 212. Type 

 Fultgula fischeri, Brandt. 

 Bill rather small and narrow, with only a little over one-third 



