628 (ED EMI A 



(J ad. (Spain). Entire plumage deep black, the head and neck glossed 

 with purplish, the upper parts with greenish steel-blue ; under parts 

 duller and tinged with brown ; bill with a large bulb at the base of the 

 upper mandible, a line through which, and a large patch in front are 

 orange-yellow ; rest of bill bluish black ; legs dark olivaceous ; iris dark 

 brown. Gape 2'4, wing 9'5, tail 4*1, tarsus 1'8 inch. The female is dull 

 dark brown, the upper parts with paler margins ; sides of the head greyish 

 black ; chin and upper throat white ; middle of abdomen white marked 

 with brown ; bill only slightly swollen at the base of the upper mandible 

 and dull bluish black throughout ; legs dull olivaceous. 



Hob. Northern Europe, north to Lapland and Iceland ; in 

 winter ranging south to the Mediterranean and North Africa ; 

 Asia, east to the Taimyr Peninsula. 



In the summer it frequents inland waters, but in winter it 

 is essentially a marine species. It flies low but swiftly, and is 

 an excellent diver, like its allies, obtaining its food chiefly by 

 diving. Its call-note in winter is harsh, but in the nesting 

 season the male utters a series of loud flute-like notes, til, til, 

 til, til, which is answered by the female with a harsh re, re, re, 

 re, re. Its nest is a mere hollow in the ground, usually under 

 a bush, well lined with grass, moss, and down, and the eggs, 

 8 to 9 in number, are usually deposited about the middle of 

 June, and are creamy white, smooth in texture of shell, and 

 measure about 2'35 by T80. 



870. AMERICAN SCOTER. 

 CEDEMIA AMERICANA. 



<Edemla americana, Swains, and Kichardson's Faun. Bor. Am. ii. p. 451 

 (1831); (Audub.), B. Am. vi. p. 343, pi. 403; Salvadori, Cat. B. 

 Br. Mus. xxvii. p. 404 ; Seebohm, B. Jap. Emp. p. 248 ; Tacz. F. 0. 

 Sib. 0. p. 1191 ; Kicigway, p. 111. 



Kuro-gamo, Jap. 



ad. (New Brunswick). Differs from 0. nigra in having the bill 

 decidedly hooked, and the entire upper mandible, including the knob, 

 yellow, on the sides shaded with scarlet- vermilion ; under mandible 

 blackish ; legs and feet blackish brown ; iris dark brown. Culmen 1*70, 

 wing 9*2. tail 4'0, tarsus 1*8 inch. 



Hob. Northern America, breeding in the high north and 

 migrating in winter south to New Jersey, the Great Lakes, 



