KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 233 



It ranges throughout the Northern Hemisphere ; in North America south 

 to the Potomac and the Ohio; it breeds far northward. (a.o.u.) 



The eggs are described as being pale bluish and usually from six to 

 twelve in number. 



This is one of our most common ducks on the New England coast in fall 

 and winter. It ranges south as far as Florida, but is not common, although 

 I have occasionally taken specimens on the Banana River. In the winter 

 of 1894-5 there were a number of these birds at Lake Worth. 



Genus OIDEMIA Fleming. 

 Subgenus OIDEMIA. 



OIDEHIA AMERICANA Sw. dv Rich. 

 American Scoter. Black Coot. 



CFemale.) 



(Male.) 



Adult male : General plumage entirely black ; bill black, the upper mandible being- 

 yellowish orange at the base. Feathers on the bill more than one half an Inch from the 

 nostril ; no white on the wing. 



Adult female: Brownish or sooty brown ; paler on the under parts, becoming grayish white 

 on the belly; sides of the head whitish. The female is smaller than the male. 

 Length, 19: Wing, 9.10; Tarsus, 1.65; Bill, 1.80. 



Species breeds from Labrador northward ; the eggs being described as 

 pale brown or dull whitish brown and from six to ten in number. It ranges 



