232 ANATIDiE. 



scapulars and tertials of pure white. Its eggs, five in 

 number, have been described as of a dull chocolate colour ; 

 but are, according to Dr. Hall, a pale greenish-grey. 



The Long-tailed Duck, which by the way, is common 

 in the north of Scotland in the winter, bears a near 

 affinitjr to the mergansers : a genus distinguished by their 

 large body, and great length of head and bill, the latter 

 of which, besides being rather pointed, is armed on 

 both mandibles with saw-like teeth, and terminates in 

 a hook curved downwards. 



The Scoters, of which four kinds are found in 

 Canada, feed on fish and large molluscs, and are rank 

 and oily in flavour, and almost uneatable when killed. 

 So strong is the flesh of the common Scoter that Yarrell 

 says it is allowed by the Roman Catholics to be eaten in 

 Lent, as being so completely identified with fish. 



These birds have the bill rather elevated at the base, 

 and the body large and bulky ; and they fly heavily, and 

 very close to the surface of the water. 



The first, or common Scoter of North America, 

 though named Oidemia Americana by Baird, appears 

 to be precisely similar to the common Scoter of Europe 

 {Oidemia nigra, of Yarrell), which according to that 

 author, differs from every other species of the Anatidce 

 in having no bony enlargement of the trachea or wind- 

 pipe : a singular and unaccountable peculiarity. 



