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3 



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6 



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4 



the; surf scotek. 121 



being brought to a narrow rounded point ; the entering angle of 

 the forehead also projects, as in the common eider, 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 swell- 

 ings being entirely exposed, and not in part concealed by the 

 feathers, as in the velvet scoter/"^ The highly arched form of 

 the bill above the nostrils requires, however, especial notice. t 

 In the absence of a figure, some idea may perhaps be given by 

 the following two notes of its depth : — 



in. lin. 

 Depth of bill at base of ridge where plumage teriniuates- 

 lines fi'om tip ....... 



Depth of bill at 10 liaes from tip . 



Length of bill above (not following curve) 



Length of bill to rictus ...... 



Length of bill to base of lateral protuberances 

 Breadth of bill between the lateral protuberances . 



" The specimen which has furnished the subject of this com- 

 munication was in course of being preserved for Dr. Charles 

 Cupples, of Lisburn, who, on being informed of its rarity, liberally 

 presented it to the Belfast Museum. 



" The surf scoter is known only as a British species from its 

 having been obtained at the Orkney and Shetland Islands, with 

 the exception of one individual, recorded by Mr. Gould as ob- 

 tained in the Trith of Eorth, and ' a recently shot one, sent to 

 Mr. Bartlett for preservation,' as noticed in Yarrel^s work, 

 vol. iii. p. 322, 2nd edit. ; but the locality where it was killed is 

 not mentioned — the 'Naturalist,' vol. iii. p. 420, is referred to 

 for the original notice of this specimen. 



"Wilson (briefly) and Audubon (very fully) give interesting 



* 'lUust. Brit. Orn.,' vol. ii. p. 335. 



t YarreU's figure of this species is admirable, with the single exception that 

 the peculiar form of the bill is not represented. The arched profile of the upper 

 mandible in the specimen under consideration (probably fi-om its being a vei'y old 

 male) is still more strongly marked than in IMr. Selby's figure, representing a male 

 bird of life size. 



