150 ANATID^E 



Voice. The voice is croaking in character, like that of 

 the last species, and not particularly harsh or loud. 



Nest. The nest is built on the ground among coarse 

 herbage, usually near the margin of a lake. The eggs, six 

 to eight in number, are of a beautiful pure white colour. 

 Incubation does not take place until late in June. 



Geographical distribution. The Surf-Scoter breeds over 

 a great area of North America, chiefly north of the United 

 States, though rare in Greenland and North-east Siberia. 

 In winter it migrates almost as far south as the West 

 Indies on the Atlantic side, and California on the Pacific 

 side. As a wanderer it has occurred in the Faroes, Norway, 

 Lapland, the Gulf of Bothnia, Heligoland, and the north 

 coast of France (Saunders). 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Plumage rich inky- 

 black, except for a broad patch of white on the top of the 

 head and another on the back of the neck. 



Adult male, post-nuptial or eclipse. An eclipse plumage, 

 somewhat approaching that of the female, may be assumed 

 by the adult male for a short period in early autumn. 



Adult female nuptial. Dull brown ; lighter about the 

 cheeks, breast, and abdomen. There is a white patch 

 more ill-defined than in the male on the back of the neck, 

 and sometimes two white spots on the cheeks. 



Adult winter, male and female. Similar to the respective 

 nuptial plumages. 



Immature, male and female. Resembles the female in 

 plumage, but as a rule there is more white about the 

 cheeks. 



BEAK. Chiefly orange-red ; deeper in tint about the 

 nostrils, tip, and sloping * basal protuberance.' On the 

 side of the upper segment near the gape, is a large black 

 patch. 



FEET. Deep yellow or orange ; webs dusky-brown. 



IEIDES. Bright yellow. 



