230 A\ATID.E. 



Favier states that the Scoter is " found in abundance near 

 Tangier, arriving sometimes as early as August, retiring north- 

 wards in April." 



I found this Duck in some seasons very common about the 

 Straits, especially after rough weather in Gibraltar Bay; but 

 they do not appear except in small lots. The earliest noticed 

 was on the 12th of November ; the latest on the 12th of March, 

 1872 ; and was very abundant off Malaga in March 1882. 



Adult male. Entirely black; bill black, with centre of upper mandible 

 yellow, and a knob at the base. 



Female. Sooty brown ; chin and throat whitish ; side of head greyish 

 white ; bill without knob. 



Young. Cheeks, chin, sides, and front of neck dull greyish white; belly 

 speckled with brown and white. Length 21 inches. 



[CEdemia fusca (Linnaeus). Trie Velvet Scoter. 



Is recorded from Valencia, by Vidal, but has not been observed 

 within the district treated of in this work, 



Adult male. Velvet-black, except the large wing-spot, eyelid, and patch 

 below eye, which are white ; iris yellowish white. 



Female. Blackish brown, but with white wing-spot. Length 21 inches.] 



Subfamily ERISMATURIN^. 



252. Erismatura leucocephala (Scopoli). The Spiny-tailed 

 or White-faced Duck. 



Spanish. Porron. 



" This species occurs near Tangier on passage, passing north 

 during April and returning to winter further south in October. 

 Some of the spring migrants remain in the country to breed in 

 June, laying as many as ten pure white eggs, with a rough 

 granulated surface. This Duck is not at all regular in its 

 appearance, but in some seasons is quite common." Favier. 



In Andalucia the Spiny-tailed Duck occurs as above, chiefly 



