THE SURF-SCOTER. 



immense procession of this very abundant species has passed beyond the Bay of 

 Fundy, towards its breeding places, only the crippled, immature, or superannuated 

 individuals having been left behind ; and these remain unmated in the more 

 southern latitudes through vthe whole summer." 



The general term by which all the Scoters are known in America is " Coots." 

 In New England the Surf Duck is " Skunk-head Coot," and also the " Hollow- 

 billed Coot," " Grey Coot " also for the young and female. 



Dr. Cooper describes it as a most abundant species in the winter along the 

 whole of the Pacific coast, being seldom molested or shot ; many attain to a great 

 age, and linger along the southern shores in great flocks. Long wet seasons are 

 particularly fatal to them, as they appear very delicate and particularly subject to 

 the influence of weather, becoming thin and blind, and eventually are found dead 

 along the beaches, or drift in helplessly to the wharves and piers. 



Audubon, who found them nesting in Labrador, says : " The nest was snugly 

 placed amid the tall leaves of a bunch of grass, and raised fully four inches above 

 its roots. It was entirely composed of withered and rotten weeds, the former being 

 circularly arranged over the latter, producing a well rounded cavity, six inches in 

 diameter, by two-and-a-half in depth. The 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 found 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 eqiially rounded at both ends than usual, the shell 

 perfectly smooth, and of uniform pale yellowish or cream colour." 



Mr. MacFarlaue, who found it breeding in considerable numbers on the Lower 

 Anderson River, says the nest is not to be distinguished from that of the Velvet- 

 Scoter. One found on June 25th contained eight eggs ; it was placed on a ridge 

 of ground at the foot of a dry stunted pine, and was made of dark-coloured down 

 and quite concealed by the lower branches of the tree. All the nests found were 

 in the same style and patteni, the number of eggs five to eight, uniform ivory- 

 white, with a slight tinge of pink. 



Their food consists of small fish and shell-fish, and. their flesh is coarse and 

 fishy, and of no value in a culinary sense. During incubation the males appear 

 to separate from the females and form separate flocks. 



I know of no reason why this species should be specially designated the Surf- 

 Scoter, for it frequents the same sort of water as its congeners, floating as buoy- 

 antly as a cork in the heaviest sea, and is a most expert diver, seeking its 

 food at great depths. 



In the adult male " the upper mandible is orange-red, with the margins 



