94 NESTS AND EOGS OF 



\.. 

 A few of this species are said to breed in Labrador as tliey do in the neighbor- 

 hood of marshes and ponds in the interior, northward. In the Hudson Bay region 

 the American Scoter nests in June and July. It has been found on islands along the 



coast of Alaska and at the mouth of the Yukon in 

 June. The Scoter nests similar to the Eider, on the 

 ground, near water; the material used being coarse 

 grass, feathers and down. The nests are often well 

 secreted in the cliffs and hollows about steep banks. 

 This duck is called Sea Coot, Butter-billed and Hol- 

 low-billed Coot. The plumage of the adult male is 

 entirely black, and the top of the bill orange; the 



color of the female is sooty-brown, becoming paler 

 163. American Scoter. , , ^. . ' , „ ^. .. , ,*,, . 



below. It is much smaller than the male. This 



duck, like many others in winter, is sometimes found in great numbers along the 



entire Atlantic coast. Its food is principally small bivalves, which it secures by 



diving. A female of this duck was killed December 3, 1895, on Alum Creek, a small 



stream, which is at present the eastern boundary line of Columbus, Ohio. The 



specimen is now in my collection. The eggs are said to range from six to ten in 



number. They are of a pale dull buff, or pale brownish-buff, and measure 2.55x1.80. 



[164.] VELVET SCOTEE. Oidemia fusca (J,Ann.) Geog. Dist.— Northern Old 

 World; accidental in Alaska and Greenland. 



This fine sea duck belongs to the Old World. It is a winter visitant on the coasts 

 of England; a few specimens have been obtained at different times in the London 

 markets. It is recorded as having been taken as far south as Italy. On the Orkney 

 and Shetlaiid Islands it is said to be common. Found in Norway, Sweden and 

 Scandinavia. Said to be abundant everywhere in Lapland, where it nests on hum- 

 mocks, among the willow swamps, in long grass near water, or by the edges of large 

 lakes in mountain districts. The eggs are of a pale cream color, and measure 2.87x 

 1.92. 



165. WHITE-WINGED SCOTEE. Oidemia degUndi Bonap. Geog. Dist. — 

 Northern America, breeding in Labrador and the Pur Countries; south to the Middle 

 States, Southern Illinois and Southern California. 



Like the Velvet Scoter, 0. fusoa of the Old World, the American bird is eminently 

 a sea duck, resorting, however, mainly to inland waters during the breeding season. 

 Its summer home is in the Arctic regions. Found along the Atlantic and Pacific 

 coasts, and as far south as the Middle States in the spring, fall and winter. It 

 breeds on many of the lakes, rivers and larger bodies of water in Manitoba. The 

 "White-winged Coot," "Sea Coot," "Black Surf Duck," or Velvet Duck, as it is 

 variously called, has been found breeding quite abundantly on the Lower Anderson 

 river, constructing the nest on the ground near fresh water. The nests contain a 

 fining of down and feathers. Audubon found it breeding in Labrador from the 1st 

 to the 10th of June. The nests were built by the side of small lakes, two or three 

 miles distant from the sea, and usually placed under low bushes; they were formed 

 of twigs, mosses and various plants matted together. The nests were large and 

 almost flat, several inches thick, lined with some feathers of the female, but without 

 down. Th© eggs are usually six in number, measuring 2.68x1.83. They are of a pale 

 \)ufC, varying to green. 



