ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — MELANETTA. 



97 



chaiwtor to thoso — lii-iny invariably (IPi)re8Hions luailo in the grouiul, at the loot of 

 small trees, and lined almost entirely with down and leathers. 



Specimens of tliis l)ird were taken by Mr. Kennieott near Fort Resolution, June f), 

 1800; and, a little later, on the Ynkon Kiver. In this neighborhood it was also 

 found by Mr. Loekhart in .June, 18G1 and 18G2. 



This Duck is very rarely seen on any of the interior waters of the United States. 

 A male in very shabby jdumage was sliot near lilaek-hawk I.sland, in Lakt^ Kosko- 

 nong, Wis(!onsin, Oet. 11', 1800; and this specimen is stiii in Professor Kundien's 

 collection. 



Eggs of this species are of a uniform pale pinkish cream-color. Examples in the 

 Smithsonian Collection from the Yukon (Nos. (3671) and GG7S) measure 'J.IO by l.'JO 

 inches, and 2.75 by 1.80. 



Melanetta fusca. 



THE EUBOPEAN VELVET SCOTER. 



Anas /asm, Linv. S. X. cd. 10, I. 1758, 123; id. 12, I, 1760, 196. — Naum. Viig. Deutschl. XII. 



1844, 123, 1.1. 313. 

 Mdiuiilla fimea, Hon;, Isis, 1822, .164. 



Mihinelhi fusai, Uii.uw. Pr. IT. .S. Nut. Mils. Vol. 3, 1880, 20,5, 222 ; Nom. N. Am. U. 1881, no. 631. 

 Oulnamfii.mi, Siki'Iikns, Slmw's (ii'ii. Zool. XII. ])t. ii. 1824, 216.-Honai'. ('0111]). List, 18.38, r>7.— 



Ki:vs. & Hi.As. Will). Kur. 86. — Ma((;ii.l. Man. II. 180. — (iUAV, Ucn. III. 625 ; Cat. Brit. B. 



1863, 206. 

 Jhh.i cnrim, Pai.I,. Zooj;. Kosho-As. II. 1826, 244. 

 Aims fu/i(jiiii)sa, Bkchsi-. Xiiturg. IV. 962, \)\. 36. 

 MdaiitUii Hunindiuchii, M. vicijajmn, and ^f, platyrhyncfwn, Bueiim. Viig. Deutschl. 1831, pp. 904, 



906, 907. 

 Velvet ScoUr, Yauk. Brit. B. od. 2, HI. 312, fig.; ed. 3, III. 314, fig.; et AucT. 



Hab. Pftlicarctic Region ; aocidental in Southiirn Greenland (Reinhahdt, Vid. Med. Nat. 

 For. Kjolienbrtvn, 1879, 1) ; Alloknagik Lake, Alaska, July 20, 1883 ; C. L. McKay (spec, in 

 Nat.. Mils. Coll.). 



Si». Char. Adult male : Maxilla much swdUen near the rictus, the base of the culmen only 

 slii^htly elevated, orange or reddi.sh of the maxilla crosseil on each side hy a Mack line running 

 oliliquely from the Idack above the nostril to that on each side of the nail. Ueneral color brown- 

 ish black, relieved by a white, somewhat crescentic, j.atch beneath the eye, anil extendiiif,' sonie- 

 wliat behind it, and a white speculum on the wings (involving the .seconilary (piills). " The uj.per 

 ba.tal jirominence of the bill, the nostrils, part of the lateral prominences, the margins of the ujiper 

 mandible, and a streak on each side of the unguis black | the sides rich orange, the inif,'iiis and 

 part of the ridge reddish flesh-color ; the basal half of tlu! lower niandibh- black, the rest lake- 

 red. The iris is gniyish white, with an external dusky ring. The inner side of the tai-sus, of the 

 hind toe and its web, as well as of the other toes, with the whole loose web of the inner orpinient- 

 orange ; the puter side of the tiirsus, hind toe and its web, as well as of the other toes, bluish car- 

 mine, or lake; the sole of the toes and the webs above brownish black ; the claws black" (Mac- 

 gillivuay). Adult female : Sooty grayish, or grayish dusky, darker above; wing with a white 

 speculum, but no white spot on side of head. Bill entirely dusky ; feet as in the male, but colors 

 duller. 



Wing, 10.6.5-11.40 inches; culmen, 1.40-1.70; depth of maxilla at base, 1,10-1.30; tarsus, 

 1.80-2.10 ; middle toe, 2.70-2.90. 



VOL. II. — 13 



