46 BIRDS OF THE WORLD 



The feet and bill of the Goosander are a bright red, 

 the head is dark green, the upper part of the body 

 black and white, and the lower part white washed with 

 pink. The Hooded Merganser, a smaller bird, is 

 also black and white in general colouring, and has a 

 beautiful crest, from which it takes its name. See 

 Plate 36, Fig. 207. 



The Smew is a small Fishing Duck found only in 

 the more northerly parts of the Old World, The col- 

 ouring of the adult male is white, varied with black, the 

 head crested and dark green. The general colour of 

 the female is reddish-brown. See Plate 36, Fig. 210. 



The Velvet Scoter, or Coot as it is commonly called 

 in America, is a large Sea Duck, frequently met with 

 along the coast in fall and winter. It feeds largely 

 on shellfish, which it obtains by diving. In colour it 

 is a rich velvety black, relieved only by a small white 

 patch on the head and wing and the brilliant orange 

 of beak and legs. Several species of this Duck are 

 foimd in both America and Europe. See Plate 36^ 

 Fig. 212. 



The Eider-Duck is one of the best known of the 

 Duck tribe, on accoimt of the fact that its down is so 

 much in demand for domestic purposes. This doAvn 

 is obtained by robbing the nest-material of the breed- 

 ing birds. It is plucked by the female from her 

 breast to serve as a lining for the nest and a covering 

 for the eggs. In Greenland and in various parts of 

 Iceland and Labrador many people make their living 

 by gathering this beautiful down and selling it. The 

 male plumage is black and white over most of the 

 body, the head greenish, and the female, as is the case 



