North American Birds Eggs. 



81 



1 62. King Eider. Somateria spectabilh-. 



Range. — Northern Hemisphere, breeding in America from Labrador to Green- 

 land and the Arctic Ocean; south in winter to tlie New England States and rare- 

 ly fartlrer on the eastern side, and to the Aleutians on the Pacific; also casually 

 to the Great Lakes in the interior. 



A handsome and very different species from any of the foregoing, having the 

 crown ashy blue, and tlie long scapulars black instead of white. It also has a 

 broad V-shaped mark on the throat. Lilce all the other Eiders, tlie female is 

 mottled brown and black, tlie different species being very difficult to separate. 

 Tlie nests are sunk in the ground and lined with down. Eggs number from six 

 to ten. Size L\81) X 1.80. Data. — Point Barrow, Alaska, July 5, LSi»8. Five eggs. 

 Nest a hollow in the moss on tundra lined with moss and down. Collector, 

 E. A. Mcllhenny. 



163. American Scoter. Oidcmia (imcricana. 



Range. — Northern North .\.merica, breeding from Labrador, tlie Hudson Bay 

 region and the Aleutian Islands northward; winters scjuth to Virginia, the Great 

 Lakes and California. 



Scoters or "Coots'" as they are 



generally called are Sea Ducks 



whose plumage is almost whf)lly 



black; they liave fantastically 



colored and shaped bills. The 



American Scoter is entirely 



black without markings; base of 



bill yellow and orange. This 



species nest as do the Eiders, 



often concealing the nest, of 



grass and feathers, under some 



overhanging rock. They lay 



from six to ten eggs of a dingy 



buff color. Size 2.50 x 1.70. 



Data. — Mackenzie Bay, June 15, 



18!)'.). Ten eggs. Nest a hollow 



in the sand, lined with down. 

 fBulf.] 



[164.] Velvet Scoter. Oidcmia fvf<c(i. 

 An Old Workl species that has accidentally ficcurred in Greenland. 



165. White-winged Scoter. Oidemia (leylaitdi . 



Range.— Aliundant in North America, breeding from Labrador, North Dakota 

 and British Columbia, northward. Wintering south to the :\Iiddle States, 

 southern Illinois and southern California. 



The largest of the Scoters, length 22 inches, distinguished by a large white 

 speculum on the wing, also a white comet extending from under the eye back- 

 wards. It also has a yellow eye. Like the other Scoters, this species often feeds 

 in very deep water. They are strong, active diving birds, and are also strong on 

 the wing, generally flying close to the surface of the water. Their flesh is not 

 regarded as good eating, although they are often sold for that purpose. They 

 nest on the ground, generally in long grass or under low bushes making a 

 coarse nest of grasses, and sometimes twigs, lined with feathers. They lay from 



Ave to eight eggs of a pale buff color. 



7 



Size 2.75 x 



1.85. 



