SURF SCOTER 335 



through the water to a standstill. The female is at times difficult to separate 

 from the female American Scoter but the latter has whiter cheeks and sits with 

 the bill held horizontally or slightly tilted upwards instead of pointing down- 

 wards like the bill of the Surf Scoter. The white speculum of the White-winged 

 Scoter will distinguish that species. 



IN FLIGHT. They fly in large flocks 



^ in irregular formation, with a loud hum- 



Jk jflj ming of the wings, audible even when the 



^H jQ^&Z^JE flock is at a considerable distance. In flight 



^B ^^^Bjj ^^^P these scoters look like the American Scoters, 



^^^^^B ^^^^ but can be distinguished by the white head- 



^^^ patches (more prominent in the males) and 



^ by the lack of silvery sheen on the under- 



^f surface of the flight-feathers. 



VOICE. A very silent bird; the only 



sounds are an occasional low, guttural croak, and, in the mating season, a low, 

 clear whistle, a low liquid note. 



LIFE STORY 



The Surf Scoter and the White-winged Scoter are about equal in 

 abundance, though the latter is probably more frequently encountered 

 inland. Like the other scoters, this species is commonly called "coot," 

 in spite of the fact that the coot proper is a lobe-footed bird. These 

 scoters are much sought by gunners of the New England coasts and a full 

 description of the sport is given in the "Life Story" of the White-winged 

 Scoter. The young of this scoter and of the American Scoter, known as 

 "grey coots," are the best for the table. Contrary opinions, as strong as 

 the flesh of the bird itself, are held on the merits of the meat for human 

 consumption. As the American Scoter seems to find preference with the 

 eaters of "coot," suggested methods of preparing these birds for the table 

 will be found in the "Life Story" of that species. 



"The flight of the Surf Scoter is not quite so heavy as that of the 

 White-winged Scoter; it is a smaller, lighter, and livelier bird on the 

 wing, but it so closely resembles the American Scoter in flight that the 

 two cannot be distinguished at any great distance. It rises heavily from 

 the surface of the water and experiences considerable difficulty in doing 

 so unless there is some wind, which it must face in order to rise. This 

 necessity of rising against the wind is well understood by gunners w r ho 

 take advantage of it to approach a flock of bedded birds from the wind- 

 ward, forcing the birds to rise toward the boat and thus come a little 

 nearer. When once under way the flight is strong, swift, and well sus- 

 tained. In calm weather or in light winds, migrating birds fly high, but 

 in windy or stormy weather they plod along close to the waves. They 

 often fly in large flocks or irregular bunches without any attempt at regu- 

 lar formation, following the coast line, as a rule, but sometimes passing 

 over capes or points to make short cuts .... As a diver the Surf Scoter 

 is fully equal to the other sea ducks, depending on its diving powers in 



