SURF SCOTER. 93 



Subgenus PELIONETTA Kaup. 

 OIDEMIA PERSPICILLATA (Linn.). 



60. Surf Scoter. (166) 



Bill, narrowly encroached upon by the frontal feathers, on the culmen, 

 nearly or quite to the nostril, but not at all upon its sides; about as long as the 

 head, with nail narrowed anteriorly. The swelling lateral as well as superior, 

 nostrils beyond its middle. Bill of male, orange-red, whitish on the sides, with 

 a large circular black base ; plumage, black, with a patch of white on the fore- 

 head, and another on the nape ; none on the wing. Female : — Smaller ; bill, 

 black ; feet, dark, tinged with reddish ; webs, black ; plumage, sooty -brown ; 

 below, silvery-gray ; whitish patches on each side of the head. Length, 22 to 

 24 inches ; female, 20 to 22 inches. 



Hab. — Coasts and larger inland waters of northern North America. South 

 in winter to the Carolinas, Ohio River and Lower California. 



Audubon observed this species breeding in Labrador. He found a nest in a 

 fresh-water marsh, among the tall grass and weeds. It was composed entirely 

 of withered weeds, lined with the down of the birds, and contained five eggs of 

 a pale yellowish or cream color. 



This handsome Scoter visits the waters of Ontario in spring and 

 fall, where it is observed in limited numbers in company with the 

 white-winged species, which it resembles in its habits, the clear white 

 patches in marked contrast to the deep black of the plumage serving, 

 even at a distance, to mark its presence in a flock. It is never 

 numerous, though more frequently seen than the black Scoter ; and 

 has been observed at Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and along the sea 

 coast. It breeds in immense numbers in the north, and judging from 

 the fact of so few being seen elsewhere, it is probable that the bulk of 

 the species remain there over the winter. 



Mr. Nelson, in his "Birds of Alaska," says regarding this species: 

 "During the summer of 1881 I found them common about the head 

 of Norton Sound, on both shores of Behring Strait, and in Kotzebue 

 Sound. Although I did not find these birds nesting commonly near 

 St. Michael's, yet from about the first of July until autumn, immense 

 flocks of males frequented the shores of St. Michael's and the adjoin- 

 ing Stewart Island. The seaward shores formed the ordinary haunts 

 of these birds until the approach of a gale forced them to seek the 

 lee of the islands or the sheltering bays. From the fact that these 

 flocks are formed exclusively of males, it is evident that the females 

 assume the duties of incubating the eggs and rearing the young. 



" The main breeding ground of this species remains unknown to 

 me, for, although females and young were not rare in summer, they 



