336 
NEW-YORK FAUNA-BIRDS. 
THE BROAD-BILLED COOT. 
FcLIGULA AMERICANA. 
PLATE CIX. PIG. 212. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Anas nigra. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 135, pi. 72, fig. 2. 
Oidemia id. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 390. 
Oidemia americana. Richardson, F. B. A. Vol. 2, p. 450. 
F. id. Audubon, B. of Am. Vol. 6, p. 343, pi. 403 (male and female). 
American Scoter Duck , F. id. Nuttall, Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 423. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 331. 
Characteristics. Entirely black : no mirror. Protuberance on the black bill orange yel¬ 
low, including and not extending beyond the nostrils. Female, dusky 
brown; bill uniform dusky. Length, 18'0. 
Description. Greatest breadth of the bill 0‘9, and equal to the height of the central pro¬ 
tuberance. Nostrils oblong-oval, medial: end of lower mandible enlarged. Tarsus 1'8, and 
much compressed: middle and outer toe subequal, 3’0 long. Tail short, pointed, of sixteen 
acute feathers; the central pair 1‘5 longer than the outer ones. 
Color. Male, uniform black ; underneath the wings glossy light ash. Iris brown. 
Female: protuberance on the bill scarcely evident; whole bill uniform brownish black. 
Uniform color dusky brown ; lighter beneath. 
Length, 17'0-19’0. 
This duck, which is known on this coast under the name of Broad-billed Coot, and farther 
east by the name of Butter-bill, is described in the books under the name of American Scoter 
Duck. It is by no means as common as the preceding, although in some seasons it is very 
abundant. Until recently, it has been confounded with the F. nigra of Europe. Food, 
fishes and marine shells. It breeds from Labrador northwardly. Its geographical range 
similar to the preceding. Confined. 
