74 



DUCKS. GEESE AND SWANS OF NOETH AMERICA. 



Genus OIDEMIA Fleming. 



Subgenus OIDEMIA- 



OIDEIVIIA AMERICANA Sw. & Rich. 



American Scoter. Black Coot. Butter=bill. 



^Idnlt male: General plumage, entirely black; bill, black, the upper mandible being 

 yellowif'li orange at the l)ase. Feathers on the bill more than one-half inch from the 

 nostril ; no white on the wing. 



AiluU femiile : Hi'owiiish, or sooty brown; paler on the under parts, heeoming grayish 

 white on the belly; sides of the head, whitish; feathers on the bill more than one-half 

 inch from nostril ; no white on the wing. The female is smaller than tlie male. 



Length, .10; wing, il.lO; tarsus, 1.65; bill, 1.80. 



This species breeds from Lal)nid<)i' nortliwavd ; the eggs being described as 

 pale brown or dull whitish Ijrown, and from six to ten in nitmber. It occurs 

 on the Great Lalses, and ranges in winter soutli to Florida and California. On 

 the New England coast it is a familiar bird to gunners who give it the name 

 of Butter-bill Coot. 



The Velvet Scoter (Oideviia/usca), a European si)ecies, has been taken in 

 Greenland. 



