BIRDS OF 



certain of their being taken in Ontario. It is of circumpolar 

 distribution, breeding abundantly around the shores of the Arctic 

 sea ; when coming south in winter the line of migration is mostly 

 along the Pacific coast, where it is observed in great numbers as 

 far south as the Aleutian Islands. 



The peculiarities of its bill serve readily to distinguish it from 

 the other Eiders. 



GENUS OIDEMIA FLEMING. 



SUBGENUS OIDEMIA. 

 55. OIDEMIA AMERICANA (Sw. & RICH.). 163. 



American Scoter. 



Plumage of male entirely black ; bill black, the gibbosity orange. 

 Female sooty-brown, paler below, becoming grayish-white on the belly, there 

 dusky-speckled, on the sides and flanks dusky-waved ; throat and sides of 

 head mostly continuous whitish ; bill all black ; feet livid olivaceous, with 

 black webs. Male, nearly 2 feet ; wing, about 10 inches ; female, 18-19 inches . 



HAB. Coasts and larger lakes of Northern North America ; breeds in 

 Labrador and the northern interior ; south in winter to New Jersey, the 

 Great Lakes and California. 



Nest on the ground. Eggs, 6 to 8 ; buff color. 



This is another of the Sea-Ducks which breeds in large num- 

 bers at Labrador and elsewhere along the coast, visiting the 

 larger lakes in the interior occasionally during the season of 

 migration. On Hamilton Bay it is sometimes observed in com- 

 pany with others of its class, but there being nothing in its 

 appearance or history to commend it to popular favor, it is gen- 

 erally allowed to pass unmolested. 



66 



