BIRDS OF KANSAS. 89 



GENUS OIDEMIA FLEMING. 



"Feathers at the base of the maxilla forming a nearly straight oblique line 

 from the forehead back to the rictus, advancing scarcely, if at all, on the fore- 

 head; bill very deep through the base, where sometimes elevated into a round- 

 ish kuob. and much depressed toward the end. No white whatever on the 

 plumage." 



SUBGENUS PELIONETTA KAUP. 



"Feathers on the forehead extending in a broad strip nearly or quite as far 

 as the posterior end of the nostrils, but those of the lores not advancing for- 

 ward of the rictus: the lateral base of the maxilla in the adult male greatly 

 swollen, and with the basal outline convex; nail very large and broad, but nar- 

 rowed terminally. No white on the wings, but the head with large white 

 patches (indistinct in the female and young)." 



Oidemia perspicillata (LINN.). 



SURF SCOTER. 

 PLATE VII. 



A rare visitant; captured October 29th, 1887, on the Kansas 

 River, above the dam at Lawrence, by Mr. A. L. Bennett, of 

 Emporia. 



B. 602, 603. E. 633. C. 739, 740. G. , . U. 166. 



HABITAT. North America in general; south in winter to 

 Jamaica, Florida, Ohio River, Kansas, and Lower California; 

 accidental in Europe. 



SP. CHAR. "Adult male: General color deep black, very intense above, 

 more sooty on the lower surface; a white patch on the forehead, the anterior 

 outline semicircular or somewhat angular, and reaching forward a little in 

 advance of the lateral base of the bill, the posterior outline almost directly 

 transverse, and extending back to a little past the middle eye; nape with a 

 somewhat shield-shaped or cuneate longitudinal patch of pure white, having 

 the upper outline almost directly transverse; bill chiefly orange red, deeper 

 (intense red in some specimens) above the nostrils; swollen base of the maxilla 

 with a large, irregular roundish, somewhat quadrate, or trapezoidal, spot of 

 deep black, with a light colored space (bluish white in life) in front, as far as 

 the nostrils; nails duller orange, or dingy grayish; iris yellowish white; feet 

 orange red, the webs greenish dusky; claws black; upper mandible with a 

 nearly square black patch at the base, margined with orange, except in front, 

 where there is a patch of bluish white extending to near the nostrils, prominent 

 part over the nostrils deep reddish orange, becoming lighter toward the ungnis. 

 and shaded into rich yellow toward the margins; the uuguis dingy grayish yel- 

 low; lower mandible flesh colored, unguis darker; iris bright yellowish white; 

 tarsi and toes orange red, the webs dusky, tinged with green; claws black. 

 Adult female: Pileum and nape brownish black; rest of head ashy brown, with 

 an indistinct whitish patch (not always indicated) on the lower anterior portion 



