SU3JF SCOTER. 55 



They assemble both in small and large flocks, and are said 

 to be shy in their habits, and not easily approached. 



They feed on mussels and other small shell-fish, and also on 

 the shoots of water-plants, grasses, and flags. 



Their cry is described by Audubon as rough, uncouth, and 

 guttural. 



The nest of this species, placed on the coasts of inland 

 seas, and by the borders of lakes, is formed of dry and withered 

 weeds, flags, and grasses, in the midst of a hummock, or tuft 

 of grass. The down of the bird itself serves for the lining. 

 The hollow of the interior is said by Audubon to be six 

 inches across, by two and a half in depth. 



The egsfs are four, five, or six in number, and of an oval 

 shape; their colour pale yellowish or cream white. 



The males are said to leave the females till the young are 

 able to fly. 



Male; length, one foot nine inches; bill, orange yellow, with 

 a knob at the base of the upper mandible of vermilion red, 

 on each side of it a patch of black and of silver grey; iris, 

 pale yellowish or cream white; on the forehead is an angular 

 white patch; crown, neck, and nape, glossy black, with the 

 exception of another white patch on the last named, brought 

 down from the back of the head. Chin, throat, breast, and 

 back, glossy black. 



The wings have the first and second quill feathers of nearly 

 equal length, and the longest in the wing, but the first rather 

 the longest. Greater and lesser wing coverts, primaries, 

 secondaries, tertiaries, greater and lesser under wing coverts, 

 tail, of fourteen feathers, and the tail coverts, glossy black. 

 Legs and toes, yellowish or reddish orange; webs, brownish 

 black. 



The female is dusky brown; bill, yellowish grey, the promi- 

 nence at its base is small, and of a dusky colour. The patch 

 on the forehead is pale brown, as is the other on the nape; 

 the sides of the head paler brown than the remainder of the 

 plumage. Crown, neck, and nape, sooty brown, the latter 

 paler than the other parts. Chin, throat, and breast, also 

 rather light sooty brown. Back, greater and lesser wing 

 coverts, primaries, secondaries, tertiaries, greater and lesser 

 under wing coverts, tail, and tail coverts, sooty brown. Legs 

 and toes, greyish brown. 



