113 



SEA DUCKS. 



*: ' 



Lubriulor ami the northern interior; Houth in winter to Virginia, the Cront 

 LukcH, niid Culitornia. 



VVusliinjrton, eimual W. V, I.ong Island, common \V. V., Oet. throu-fh 

 Apl. Sin),' Siii>f, rare T. V., Oet. ('aml)rid)fe, oeeasional in fall. 



Aent, on the jjroiinil, near water. /;'[/[/», "six to ten, pale dull hurt' or palo 

 brownish buH', 2-56 x 1-80" (Kidgw.). 



All throe species of Surf Sfeoters, or "Coots,'' nre abundant winter 

 resitlents off the eoast!* of the New England and northern Middle 

 States. At this time their habits are practically alike — indeed, they 

 are often found associated. As a rule, they frequent only the sea 

 and its estuaries, where they live over beds of mussels, clams, or 

 scallops, which they obtain by diving; but they are sometimes found 

 in ponds near the coast, where food of this nature is abundant. 



In The Auk for 1891. pp. 279-2ttO, Mr. George II. Mackay gives the 

 results of a long-continued study of Scoters on the Massachusetts 

 coast. 



The Velvet Rcoteb ( W4- Ohlfmia fvsca) is an Old- World species which 

 liBS been recorded from Greenland. 



166* Oldemia deglstaidi lionnp. WniTE-wTNOEn Scoter; White- 

 winoei) Coot. Ail. <J . — \ sjwt below the eye and tha upecu lit m iv kite, rent 

 of the plumage black ; bill orange-black at the base, the featliers on it reach- 

 ing forward far beyond the corners of the mouth. 7rn. s . — Grayish or fus- 

 cous-brown, lighter below ; KjHmlmn white., feathers at the base of the upper 

 bill and a spot on the ears whitish. Ad. in winter (tnd Im. 9 .—Similar to 

 tlic preceding, but generally without whitish spots on the liead. L., ii'200 ; 

 W., 1100 ; Tar., 200 ; B. along culmen, l-r>0; B. along side, ir.."). 



liemarl-d.—lhG wliite speculum and feathering of the bill will olways 

 serve to distinguish this species from its allies. 



Range.— "^rinhcm North America, breeding in Labrador and the fur 

 countries ; south in winter to Virginia, soutliern Illinois, and Cnlifornia. 



\Va.-«hington, casual W. V.. Oct. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., 

 Sept. l.") to May 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, occa- 

 Hional in fall. 



N(H, on the gro\md, beneath bushes, frequently some distance from water. 

 .£f7j7»,"8i.\ to ten, pale dull butf, varying to cream-color, 2'68 x 1-83" (Kidgw.). 



166. Oidemla perspicUlata {Linn.). Sukf Scoter; Se\ Coot. 

 Ad. S .—A square mark on the crown and a triangular one on the nape white, 

 rest of the plumage black ; bill orange-yellow, a large circular black spot on 

 its side nt the base ; feathers on the culmen extending nearly to a level with 

 the nostril, feathers on the side of the bill not extending forward. Ad. 9 

 and //«.— A whitish spot at the base of the bill and on the ears ; upj^er parts 

 fuscous brown ; throat, breast, sides, and lower belly grayer, belly white. L., 

 20-00 ; W., 9-30; Tar., I'W ; B. along culmen, 1-55; B. along side, 2-30. 



Remarks.— TliQ forward extension of the feathers on the culmen will 



