384 



OEDEMIA AMERICANA (CouEs). . 



THE AMERICAN BLACK SCOTER. 



Specific Character. — Entire plumage uniform deep black, the neck faintly- 

 glossed with dull violaceous, the feathers somewhat distinctly defined ; basal half 

 of the maxilla except a stripe along the edge of the bill bright orange, the^ 

 remainder of the bill black ; iris hazel ; legs and feet dull black. " The bulging 

 part of the upper mandible is bright orange, paler above that colour extending 

 to a little before the nostrils ; the rest of the upper mandible including its basal 

 margin to the breadth of from three to two-twelfths of an inch, black as is the 

 lower mandible ; feet brownish black ; iris brown." (Audubon). 



Female. — Above dull grayish brown, the feathers of the back and scapulars 

 tipped with lighter ; lower, parts lighter, the pale tips broader, though lacking on 

 the posterior portions ; lateral and lower parts of the head and neck nearly 

 uniform very pale grayish brown, quite abruptly defined against the uniform 

 dark brown of the pileum and nape. Bill entirely black. 



Total length about 17.00 to 19.00 inches ; extent 29.00 to 34.00 ; wing 8.75 

 to 9.50; culmen 1.75; tarsus 2.00; middle toe 2.50. Female smaller. 



Habitat. — Coasts and larger inland waters of Northern North America, south 

 to the Great lakes. New Jersey, and California. 



Sir John Richardson says of this duck that it feeds almost exclusively in the 

 open sea, that its flesh is always oily and strongly flavoured, that it frequents the 

 shores of Hudson's Bay, breeding there between the 50th and 60th parallels of 

 latitude. In Ontario we know it as one of the spring and fall migrants ; as it is- 

 not fit for food it is seldom taken. 



