120 AMERICAN SCOTER DUCK. 



ner web cut out towards the tip, leaving the feather less than a quar- 

 ter of an inch in breadth at the distance of an inch and a half from its 

 extremity ; the second longest, exceeding the first by half an inch, and 

 the third by one-twelfth, the rest rapidly graduated ; secondaries broad 

 and rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. Tail very short, gra- 

 duated, acuminate, of sixteen pointed feathers. 



The bulging part of the upper mandible is bright orange, paler 

 above, that colour extending to a little before the nostrils ; the rest of 

 the upper mandible, including its basal margin to the breadth of from 

 three to two twelfths of an inch, black, as is the lower mandible. Iris 

 brown. Feet brovtmish-black. The general colour of the plumage is 

 black, on the lower parts tinged with brown ; the inner webs of the 

 quills brownish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of wings 17, to end of claws 

 20 ; extent of wings 33^ ; bill along the ridge IH ; wing from flexure 

 9^^ ; tail 4 ; bare part of tibia /g ; tarsus lij ; hind toe ||, its claw || ; 

 second toe 2^^g, its claw ^^ ; third toe 2i%, its claw ^| ; fom-th toe 2{l, 

 its claw j3|. Weight 2 lb. 9 oz. 



Adult Female. Plate CCCCVIII. Fig. 2. 



The Female, which is a little smaller than the male, has scarcely 

 any protuberance at the base of the bill, which is entirely brownish- 

 black. The upper parts are of a light sooty-browTi colour, the lower 

 light brownish-grey. 



Length to end of tail 17 inches ; extent of wings 29f . 



This species differs very little from the Emropean Scoter, being 

 nearly of the same size, proportions, and colours. The male differs 

 from that of the other species in having the sides of the unguis narrowed, 

 and the orange patch on the upper mandible less extended beyond the 

 nostrils, and destitute of the median black line and lateral streak. There 

 is less difference in the colour of the plumage however, than has been 

 represented ; for adult males of this species are not sooty-brown above, 

 but deep black. 



An adult male, from Dr T. M. Brewer, of Boston. The roof of 

 the mouth is very concave and broad, with a median ridge, on which 

 there are six papilla? towards the base. There are about 25 large la- 

 mellae on each side of the upper mandible, besides a number of smaller 



