THE COMMON SCOTER. 



Oidemia nigra. 

 Ana snigra. 



HE Common Scoter, which is 

 also known as the Black Duck 

 and Black Scoter, is a well- 

 known bird, especially during 

 the winter months, on many 

 portions of the coasts of Great 

 Britain. It was at one time 

 considered a winter visitor only, 

 but nearly every summer they 

 are to be seen on the sea, off 

 the shores of most of our 

 southern counties. 



The Common Scoter is of very 

 sombre, unpretending appear- 

 ance, and its plumage possesses 

 none of the varied and striking 

 colours so noticeable in most 

 of the Duck family. The 

 adult male is about the size of a 

 Wild Duck, but is very differ- 

 ent in regard to beauty of 

 plumage. It has the beak 

 black, except the central ridge 

 of the upper mandible, which is 



