332 The Surf Scoter 



feet above the water. In each boat a man springs to his knees, follows 

 the swift course of the birds for an instant with his gun, and fires." 

 Forbush has declared : 



"The 'Coots' mate early, before the spring migration commences; 

 and after they are mated if one be shot the other will follow it down to 

 the water, and if frightened away will come back again. Therefore, 

 the gunner who understands their habits seldom fails to bag both. . . . 

 This Scoter is an experienced diver and can swim such a long distance 

 under water that it is easy for it tt> escape the gunner in a sail-boat by 

 constantly changing the direction of its flight under 



oklli 1Q r* ' i *r i *ii 1* 



Diving 



water. Some times a cripple, if pursued, will dive to 

 the bottom, and seizing some marine plant with its 

 bill will hold on and commit suicide by drowning rather than submit to 

 capture by its greatest and most persistent enemy." 



The food of the Surf Scoter consists chiefly of mussels and other 

 bivalves of various kinds that dwell in the seas, bays, and river-mouths. 

 W. L. McAtee, of the Biological Survey, in Washington, is responsible 

 for the statement that he dissected nine specimens of this bird to ascer- 

 tain on what they had been feeding. About 80 per cent, of the food which 

 these birds had taken, shortly before being killed, consisted of mussels; 

 about 14 per cent, of periwinkles ; and about 6 l /2 per cent, of algae and 

 eelgrass. The flesh of few if any birds whose diet consists of fish or 

 shell-fish is really palatable ; and it would seem that this fact alone would 

 protect the Scoter from the onslaught of gunners, to which it is subjected 

 during its southern migration. As it is universally regarded as a legal 

 game-bird it may be interesting to note just to what extent its flesh is 

 esteemed by epicures. Speaking of the Scoter as an article of food. 

 Walter H. Rich in "Feathered Game of the Northeast," says: 



"They are unusually tough customers either in life or at the table. 



Most of our cooks believe it impossible to so prepare this bird as to make 



it decent food for any but a starving man. The best 



'* recipe I have seen runs somewhat as follows: First, 



skin your fowl and let it parboil in saleratus water at 



least one day, or until it can be dented with a fairly sharp axe. If your 



courage holds out the game is now ready to stuff and bake as yon would 



any other duck, except that you must put enough onions into its inside to 



take away all Coot flavor. Arriving at this stage of proceedings there 



are two lines of retreat yet open to you ; either throw youf delicate morsel 



away or give it to someone against whom you hold an ancient grudge 



on no account should you try to eat it." 



Classification and Distribution 



The Surf Scoter belongs to the Order Anscrcs, Family Anatida, and Sub- 

 family Anatince. Its scientific name is Oidemia pcrspicilata. Its summer home is 

 northern Canada and Alaska, and it winters along the Pacific Coast and in the 

 northern United States. 



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