AMERICAN SCAUP. 351 



bottom of the page, " one of these varieties (if such they 

 be) is common upon the lakes of Mexico." 



The late Mr. Vigors, who wrote the ornithological por- 

 tion of the volume published on the various subjects in 

 Zoology obtained during a voyage to the Pacific and 

 Behring's Straits, performed in H.M.S. Blossom, under 

 the command of Captain F. W. Beechey, appends the 

 following remarks to his notice of our Scaup Duck at 

 page 31 : 



" Several specimens of a bird nearly allied to this species, 

 if not the same, were brought home by the expedition. 

 They uniformly differ from the typical Fuliyula marila in 

 their smaller size ; in the black colour on the breast being 

 less intense and defined ; in the undulating white markings 

 being less diffused over the scapulars and back, and being 

 wanting almost entirely on the wing-coverts. Sir John 

 Richardson, whose judgment on these points, and whose 

 experience respecting the birds of the Arctic Regions 

 entitles him to every confidence, is inclined to consider 

 these birds but as a variety of the European species. 

 Following his opinion, I refrain from describing them as 

 separate. It is, however, to be observed, that the true 

 Fuligula marila is found in North America, and there is 

 less reason to believe the birds alluded to above to be 

 varieties resulting from climate or locality. Should the 

 species prove to be distinct, the specific name of mariloides, 

 which has been suggested by Sir John Richardson, would 

 be appropriate." 



One example of this American Scaup is recorded in 

 the Zoologist as having been killed near the Light House 

 Pier at Scarborough in January, 1855, and was preserved 

 for the collection of J. Tindall, Esq., a resident in Scar- 

 borough. 



The bill is blue, equal in breadth throughout, the sides 



