THE SCOTERS. 233 



i 



The male is entirely black, the knob at the base of the 

 bill alone being yellow; the female is of a brownish 

 tinge. During the time of incubation the males associate 

 in flocks together. 



The Huron Scoter ( Oidemia bimaculata) is a smaller 

 bird than any of the other three. The upper plumage is 

 a dead black; the breast and throat being a dark grey, 

 and the under parts a lighter shade of grey. There are 

 two white spots on the side of the head, and the wings 

 are white and grey. The bill is a dark slate colour, and 

 the legs and feet orange. 



The Surf Scoter (Pelionetta perspicillata) Wilson 

 considers to be peculiar to North America; and though 

 Yarrell* and M'Gillivrayf mention instances of speci- 

 mens having been killed in England, Scotland, and the 

 Orkney and Shetland Isles, as well as in other parts of 

 Europe, these can I think, only be considered as ex- 

 ceptions ; moreover it is always seen in America in large 

 flocks, and never alone as in the instances narrated. 



The male is black, with the exception only of two 

 white marks on the head, one on the forehead, the other 

 behind the crown. The bill and legs are red. 



The female is brownish black, and has little or no 

 appearance of the enlargement on the base of the bill. 



* British Birds, iii. 324. f Man. Brit. Orii., ii. 181. 



