THE SURF-SCOTER. I8 9 



I have known the same on the Lincolnshire coast when grain ships have 

 been lost, the Ducks coming by thousands to the locality to feed, where they will 

 continue as long as any food is to be got. 



The adult male Velvet-Scoter is rich glossy black, with purple reflections. 

 There is a white spot behind the eye, and the wing speculum, or bar, is large and 

 pure white ; bill orange, black on nostrils ; tubercles black, also a line round 

 margins of upper mandible ; irides pale brown ; tarsi and feet dull orange, darker 

 on webs. 



The female is brown, lighter underneath ; a smaller white bar on the wing, 

 and a dull white spot on the ear-coverts which, however, is very conspicuous at 

 a short distance ; there is another at the base of the upper mandible. The weight 

 (according to Yarrell) is, male 4^ Ibs., female 3 Ibs. 



The trachea is quite unlike that of the Common Scoter; there is a hollow 

 bony dilatation about a third of the way above the bronchi, and at the upper part, 

 below the superior larynx, is another enlargement, the inner tube of the trachea 

 having an opening on each side which communicates with this cavity. I have no 

 means of knowing how nearly the call-notes of this species resemble or differ from 

 those of CE. nigra. Seebohm gives it as a harsh " ker-ker," and this, as far as I 

 know, in no way resembles the call of the Common Scoter. 



Family ANA TID^E. 



SURF-SCOTER. 



CEa'fiuia perspiciilata, LINN. 



THE Surf-Scoter is a maritime species peculiar only to America, where it 

 ranges over a considerable portion of the Continent. It is found both on 

 the Pacific and Atlantic side, also on the* great lakes of the interior. 



