of the hamilton association. 87 



Subgenus MELANITTA Boie. 



56. OIDEMIA DEGLANDI Bonap. 165. 



White-Mi^inged Scoter, 



Male : Black, with a large white wing-patch, and another under the eye ; 

 feet, orange-red, with dusky webs. Bill, black, broadly orange-tipped ; size 

 of the last or rather larger ; female, smaller, sooty-brown, pale-grayish below, 

 with much whitish about head, but showing white speculum ; bill all black. 



Hab. Northern North America, breeding in Labrador and the Fur 

 Countries ; south in winter to the Middle States, Southern Illinois, and 

 Southern California. 



Unlike the preceding, the Velvet Ducks visit Lake Ontario 

 in large flocks in the spring, and usually remain two or three weeks 

 before retiring to their breeding places. They are large, heavy 

 birds, and their jet black color makes them look at a distance 

 larger than they really are. 



While moving about from one part of the bay to another, 

 they fly heavily at no great height above the water, but they 

 have not the restless habits of some other ducks, and if not dis- 

 turbed will remain for days together feeding near the same spot. 



For the past five years during their visits a good many are 

 found dead along ^he shore. Whether they bring the cause of 

 their death with them when they come here, or whether the 

 emptying of the city sewage and the refuse of the oil refineries 

 into the bay is in anyway connected with the mortality referred 

 to has not yet been determined. 



They arrive about the end of April, and by the 20th of May 

 are all gone. 



Subgenus PELIONETTA Kaup. 



57. OIDEMIA PERSPICILLATA (Linn.). 166. 



Surf Scoter. 



Bill narrowly encroached upon by the frontal feathers, on the culmen, 

 nearly or quite to the nostrils, but not at all upon its sides, about as long as 

 the head, with the nail narrowed auteriorly, the swelling lateral as well as 

 superior ; nostrils beyond its middle ; bill of male orange-red, whitish on the 

 sides ; with a large circular black base. Plumage of the Male : — Black, with 



