100 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 





speciniens which appear to be fully ailult (as No. 12727, $, Vnishington, D. C. ; C. Drexler), 

 the white patch on the crown is entirely absent, that on the nape being present, as usual. An 

 example from Sitka (No. 4626G ; F. Bischoflf) has, in addition to the usual white patches (on 

 crown and nape), a white bar across the lower part of the foreneck, and a longitudinal streak of 

 the same on the chin. The bill, in fully adult examples, occasionally has other black markings 

 besides the large black spot near the base. Thus, No. 31727, Yukon River, Alaska, has a black 

 spot at the base of the culnien ; in some others there is a small black spot on each side of the 



maxilla, near the end. Dr. Otto Finscli has 

 sent to Professor Baird drawings of the 

 head of a Scoter from Alaska, which is 

 c^uite different in many respects from any 

 example we have seen of P. perspicillata. 

 The bill is very different in shape from that 

 of the common species, being in every way 

 more slender, the greatest breadth of the 

 maxilla anteriorly being but .75 of an inch, 

 while the transverse diameter through the 

 base, which is but slightly swollen, is only 

 l.(X) inch; the length from the culmen is 

 about 1.35, to the loral featliers, 2.10; the 

 culmen is much less elevated above the 

 nostrils, and the tip of the bill le.ss de- 

 pressed. The prevailing color of the bill 

 is black, the nail lighter, but across the cul- 

 men, just behind the nail, and continued 

 back in a narrow stripe, between the nos- 

 trils and the tomium, almost to the base, 

 is a mark (having somjwlmt this form, W) 

 of salmon-color or (jrange, becoming yellow 

 posteriorly. The heail and neck are deep 

 black, with a longitudinal, cuneate, nuchal 

 patch of white, as in P. perspicillata, and 

 tlie frontal spot is also distinctly indicated, 

 though somewhat broken by the admixture 

 of black feathers ; Init in addition to these 

 markings, the lores are covered by a large subquadrate white patch extending from the lateral 

 base of the bill, for its entire length, back about .75 of an inch, aluKJSt touching the eye above ; 

 tliere is also a white ovate spot immediately above and behind the eye, and another of crescentic 

 form on the lower eyelid. The differences in the markings of the head would not alone be sufii- 

 cient to indicate more than ii variation of plumage of the common species ; but the form and 

 coloration of the bill is so different as to suggest the possibility of the specimen being a hybrid 

 between P. perspi-Ulata and Melanetta ficsca or veivetina. The wing, however, is said to lack the 

 white speculum of Melanetta. 



The three examples (from San Diego, Cal.) upon whicli the P. Trowhridgii was based, differ but 

 little from some eastern specimens of P. 2ierspicilUita, while other Pacific coast sj)ecimeiis, including 

 examples from as far south as the coast of Lower California, are unquestionably identical with the 

 eastern bird. 



Femak, 



The Surf Duok is a peculiarly North American species, nearly identical, both as 

 to its habits and i* listribution, with the Velvet Duck, both species being known on 

 the Atlantic coast to hunters and fishermen as Coots ; this term being used there as 

 a synonyrae of the name " Sea Duck." The Surf Duck is generally known in New 

 England an the "Skunk-head Coot," and also to some ])ersons as the "Hollow-billed 

 Coot." Its young and female, as well as the young and fenuile of the Scoter {(Edcmia 



