46 ANSERES: Lamellirostral Swimmers 



BUFFLE-HEAD 



(153. Charitonetta albeola) 14 in. 



Male: A small black-and-white Duck of unique pattern. Head 

 feathers lengthened on sides and behind (hence Bufflehead). 

 In hand the black is rich violet, green, and bronzy, and the 

 white is the snowiest; back black; pure white below. 



Female: Brown above, head and neck darker; a white bar 

 across ear region; white below. 



Locally known as " Butter-ball." " Butter Duck," etc., etc. 



SURF SCOTER 



(166. Oidemia perspicillata) 20 in. 



Male: Snow-white forehead and nape; otherwise plumage is 

 wholly velvety-black. The grotesquely-shaped bill has a black 

 patch on either side framed in white, red, and yellow; remainder 

 white, orange, and crimson. 



Female: Much smaller; sooty or brown above, gray below. 

 Head white-patched, similar to succeeding species. 



Young males suggest a very large female. 



DIXON WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 



(165a. Oidemia deglandi dixoni) 22 in. 



Male: Wholly velvety-black, except white wing-spot (spec- 

 ulum) and a small white splash behind eye. 



Female: Dusky-brown, lighter below; a large whitish spot 

 between bill and eye, another covering ear-region; white 

 speculum as in male. 



This and the following species are the " sea-ducks" commonly 

 seen in the surf and on the beaches of southern California. 

 They feed on shell-fish and crustaceans obtained by diving. 



AMERICAN SCOTER See Appendix. 



(163. Oidemia americana) 20 in. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN-EYE See Appendix. 



(151. Glaucionetta clangula americana) 20 in. 



