SURF SCOTER. 327 



borders of this inner cup were lined with the down of the 

 bird, in the same manner as the Eider Duck's nest, and in 

 it lay five eggs, the smallest number I have ever fouria in 

 any Duck's nest. They were two inches and two and a 

 half eighths in length, by one inch and five-eighths in their 

 greatest breadth; more equally rounded at both ends 

 than usual ; the shell perfectly smooth, and of a uniform 

 pale yellowish, or cream colour. I took them on board 

 along with the female, which was shot as she rose from the 

 nest. We saw no male bird near the spot ; but in the 

 course of the same day met with several males by them- 

 selves, about four miles distant from the marsh, as we 

 were returning to the harbour. This induced me to believe, 

 that, like the Eider and other Ducks that breed in Labrador, 

 the males abandon the females as soon as incubation com- 

 mences. I regret that, notwithstanding all my further 

 exertions, I did not succeed in discovering more nests or 

 young birds. The female, which was killed as she flew 

 off from the nest, uttered a rough, uncouth, guttural cry, 

 somewhat resembling that of the Goosander on similar 

 occasions ; and I have never heard any other sound from 

 either sex. The Surf Duck is a powerful swimmer and 

 an expert diver ; it is frequently observed fishing at the 

 depth of several fathoms ; and it floats buoyantly among 

 the surf or the raging billows, where it seems as uncon- 

 cerned as if it were on the most tranquil waters. I have 

 never seen this species on any fresh-water lake or river 

 in any part of the interior, and therefore consider it as 

 truly a marine Duck." 



The adult male has the beak orange, with a square 

 patch of black on each side at the base of the upper man- 

 dible ; irides straw yellow ; on the top of the head and 

 on the back of the neck are two oval patches of white ; 

 all the rest of the plumage black; legs and toes orange 



