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Genus CEDEMIA. 



Anas apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 196 (1766). 



Oidemia, Fleming, Phil, of Zool. ii. p. 560 (1822). 



Melanitta apud Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 564. 



(Edemia, Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. xii. pt. ii. p. 219 (1824, ex Flem.). 



Platypus apud C. L. Brehm, Lehrb. eur. Vog. ii. p. 820 (1824). 



Macroramphus apud Lesson, Man. d'Orn. ii. p. 414 (1828). 



Maceranas apud Lesson, ut supra (1828). 



Pelionetta apud Kaup, Natiirl. Syst. p. 107 (1829). 



Fuligula apud Aud. Orn. Biogr. iv. p. 161 (1838). 



The Scoters inhabit the northern portions of the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, breeding in 

 high latitudes, and ranging further south in the winter. Three species inhabit the Western 

 Palsearctic Region — two of which are constant residents, and the third only a rare straggler from 

 the Nearctic Region. These birds are essentially marine in their habits, frequenting the sea- 

 coast, except during the breeding-season, when they are often found inland. At other seasons 

 of the year they frequent portions of the coast where they can find abundance of the small 

 mollusca on which they usually feed, obtaining their food by diving. They fly swiftly and well, 

 though usually not at any great height above the water, and are extremely expert divers, fre- 

 quently remaining for long below the surface. Except during the breeding-season, they are 

 gregarious, being often found in vast flocks. 



They nest on the ground, either in the open or under a bush, their nest being a hollow 

 scratched in the soil and lined with grass, moss, and down ; and the eggs, which are numerous, 

 are creamy-white in colour, and smooth in texture of shell. 



GUdemia nigra, the type of the genus, has the bill about as long as the head, about as broad 

 as high at the base, depressed and flattened towards the end, Avhich is rounded, generally very 

 broad ; upper mandible with a prominence at the base, above enlarged on each side ; unguis 

 very large, broadly elliptical, decurved at the tip ; nostrils large, oval ; gape-line slightly curved, 

 the upper mandible overlapping the lower one, scarcely concealing the ends of the lamellae ; 

 trachea with two abrupt bony expansions, one at the upper larynx, the other roundish and 

 flattened ; lower larynx large but symmetrical ; bronchi wide, moderate in length ; wings rather 

 short, pointed, the second quill longest; tail short, tapering; legs short, placed far aft; tarsus 

 short, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe slender, with a large lobe ; anterior toes long ; interdigital 

 membrane full; claws small, obtuse, slightly curved. 



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