Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Male. 
336 NATATORES. OIDEMIA. Scorer. 
species), being brought to a narrow rounded point ; the en- 
tering angle of the forehead also projects, as in the common 
Hider, as far as the nostrils. The lateral parts of the bill 
at the base are very tumid, and are particular from the 
marking there displayed, these swellings being entirely ex- 
posed, and not in part concealed by the feathers, as in the 
Velvet Scoter. In the proportions of the wings, and the 
number of the tail-feathers, it agrees with that bird. The 
anatomy of the trachea also, according to the description 
of it by Witson, in its general character, resembles; that 
of Oid. fusca, for he says, “ there was a singular hard 
expansion at the commencement of the windpipe, and an- 
other much larger, about three quarters of an inch above 
where it separates into the two lobes of the lungs; this 
last was larger than a Spanish hazle-nut, flat on one side, 
and convex on the other.—Like its congeners, this bird 
feeds upon the various bivalve shell-fish and crustacea, for 
which it is constantly diving. It is always seen upon the 
water, and very frequently amidst the heaviest surf, in which 
it appears to delight, and to sport quite at ease; and on 
which account it has obtained in America the trivial name 
of the Surf Duck. 'Their skins, Witson observes, are very 
strong, and their flesh coarse, tasting of fish ; and they are, 
he adds, shy birds, and not easily approached. 
Piate 69. represents the Male bird of the natural size. 
Bill from the angle of the forehead to the tip, only one 
inch and a half long ; and from the posterior part of the 
lateral tubercles, two inches and three quarters in 
length. The front part of the bill orpiment-orange ; 
the lateral swollen part having a large patch of black, 
in front of which is another of a pearl-grey colour. 
The lamella of the bill coarse and widely set. Irides 
cream-white. The whole of the plumage glossy ink- 
black, with the exception of an angular patch of white- 
