THE SURF SCOTER. 341 



less distinct, and the black of the plumage with a dusky 

 grey or rusty tinge. This species ranges pretty generally 

 over the sea-coasts in the winter season ; supports itself 

 apparently by diving ; and is sometimes caught in the fisher- 

 men's nets : but its summer retreats and breeding-places are 

 little known, only it is supposed that they are in more 

 northern latitudes. 



THE VELVET SCOTER (Oidemia fused). 



This species is a regular winter visitant, though not 

 perhaps quite so common as the former. The whole plu- 

 mage of the male is velvet black, with the exception of the 

 wing spot and a crescent-shaped spot under the eye, which 

 are white. The protuberance at the base of the upper 

 mandible, and the margin of the bill, are black ; the nail 

 at the tip reddish, and the rest of the bill dull yellow. The 

 irides, tarsi, and toes, are reddish, the webs of the feet dusky 

 black. The female has the upper plumage dusky, the under 

 whitish, and the protuberance at the base of the bill less 

 conspicuous. It resorts to our shores regularly, but not 

 very abundantly, in the winter, supporting itself by fishing 

 and diving. Authors mention that it breeds in the arctic 

 regions and inland ; but they are not stated to have been 

 found by those who have actually visited the northern parts 

 either of the eastern or the western continent. 



THE SURF SCOTER (Oidemia perspicillatd). 



This is an American species, very rare in Britain, and its 

 history as a British bird is thus even more obscure than that 

 of the others. It has been seen only in the extreme north 

 of the British islands, and as a very rare straggler even 

 there. Its plumage is in general black, and without any 

 wing spot ; but the nape, and a band across the forehead, 

 are white. The bill is yellowish red in the middle, blackish 



