KEY TO TIIIC N\'A'I'I;K I'.IKDS Ol" FLORIDA. 



233 



It raiiLii's throughout the Northcru 1 K'niisphcre ; iu North ^Vnicrica south 

 lo the Potomac and the Ohio: it breeds far nortliward. (A.o.u.) 



The e<rirs are described as lieiii^ pale bhiish and usually from six to 

 twelve in number. 



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

 and winter. It rant^es south as far as Florida, but is not connnon, although 

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

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



Genus OIDEMIA Fi.eminc;. 

 Sui-GENus OIDEMIA. 



OIDEHIA AMERICANA .S?,. ^ Rich. 

 American Scoter. Black Coot. 



fFemale. 



(Male.) 



Aihilt male: General plumage entirely black; l)ill lilack. the upper nian(lil)le beint;- 

 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 : I)ro\vni.sh or sooty brown : paler on the under i)arts. becoming grayish white 

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

 Length, 19: Wing, y. 10: Tarsus, 1.65: Bill. i.So. 



Species breeds from Labrador norlhw ard : the ei]jgs being described as 



pale brown or didl whitish brown and from six to ten in muiiber. It ranges 



