156 BRITISH BIRD 



239. CEdemia fusea (Linn.). VELVET SCOTER. 



Hab. Northern Palaearctic region. 



Male : velvety -black ; greater wing-coverts conspicuously 

 tipped with white ; below eye a small white patch ; eye- 

 lids and iris white ; bill light orange-yellow, knob and 

 edges black, also a line from above each nostril to nail ; 

 feet orange-red ; webs blackish. Length 22*00. Female : 

 blackish-brown ; white wing-bar obscure ; a dull white 

 spot on lores, and a larger one on ear-coverts ; breast 

 slightly mottled with white ; bill slate-brown ; iris brown. 



A winter visitor in small numbers. Mr. R. Warren 

 observed a pair in breeding plumage in Co. Sligo, June 

 24th, 1889. 



240. (Edemia perspieillata (Linn.). SURF-SCOTER. 



Hab. Northern Nearctic region. 



Six or seven examples have been shot in the Orkneys, 

 and others seen ; has also been recorded from the Shet- 

 lands, Hebrides, Firth of Forth, and Aberdeenshire ; while 

 seven have been taken on the English and four on the 

 Irish coasts. 



GENUS CXXX. MERGUS, Linnadus (1766). 



Bill shorter than head, straight and slender, except at 

 base, which is tolerably stout ; nail decurved, hooked ; 

 upper mandible only laminated, but cutting edges of both 

 resolved into tooth-like serrations. Feathers of crown 

 forming an elongated pendant crest. ^ 



241. Mergus albellus, Linn. SMEW. 



Hab. Northern Palaearctic region. 



Male : head, neck and throat white, with a triangular 

 black patch on nape, and also one on the lores ; back 

 black ; wings black and white ; under parts white with 



