ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL, 227 
small shell-fish. It breeds within the Arctic circle during the 
months of May, June, and July, the broods varying from six to 
ten in number, and flying on their own account about the end 
of October. 
Male.—Black, a patch of white on the forehead and 
nape of neck ; bill orange yellow, with a knob or patch of black 
each side at the base, edged with orange; legs orange; eyes 
yellowish-white. 
Female.—Dusky-brown ; bill dark olive ; feet brown. 
Young.—lIn first feather resemble female, but have some 
whitish feathers on back of neck. 
Egg.—Greyish-buff ; four to seven in number. June— 
July. 
AMERICAN SCOTER. 
(Gdemia Americana). 
This species is unknown in captivity, the specimens at 
present in museums having reached us from Nova Scotia, and 
other parts of North America. Its habitat is somewhat ex- 
tended, breeding in the extreme north, and proceeding as far 
south as Japan in the winter. The descriptions which follow 
are taken verbatim from Salvadori’s “Catalogue of Birds.” 
The size of this Scoter is about that of the Common Wigeon, 
but I have not been able to examine any skins. 
Male.—Similar to the male of @demia nigra, but basal 
half of upper mandible, including whole of knob ; “light 
yellow or canary-yellow, richly dyed at the sides with scarlet 
vermilion, deeply at and near the nostrils, and lightly towards 
the base; irides deep brown; feet dark brown, shaded with 
black ; webs black ” (Trumbull). 
