THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY. 



8 



Notes on the Birds of Long Is hi ml. 



By W. W. Wouthinoton. 



(69) 168. Oidemia americana. 

 American Scoter, (630.) 



Black throughout. Bill with a swollen process, 

 of an orang-red color at the base of upper mandi- 

 ble extending in front of nostrils, Length L>:S 

 inches. 



A rather common winter resident. 

 Sometimes found in company with the 

 velvet and surf ducks. Called " Butter 

 billed coot" by thegunners. Breedsfrom 

 Labrador northward. Nest of grass, 

 lined with feathers, and down from the 

 birds breast, placed on the ground near 

 water. Eggs six to ten, pale buffy brown, 

 about2%xl% inches, and are usually 

 laid in June. 



(70) 165. Oidemia fused. 

 American Velvet Scoter, (632.) 



Black throughout, except a small crescent 

 under the eye, and patch on the wing of pure 

 hite. 



An abundant winter resident, arriving 

 from the North in October, and remain- 

 ing until May. They congregate in large 

 flocks, over shoals where their food of 

 small shell-fish are abundant. To these 

 places the gunners repair on still morn- 

 ings at the break of day, with their 

 " battery" (a small boat with just room 

 enough for one man to conceal himself 

 in) their decoys, and a store of ammu- 

 nition. The "battery" is anchored on 

 the most frequented part of the feeding 

 grouud, and the decoys anchored thickly 

 around it, one gunner takes his place in 

 the " battery," another in a small sail 

 boat to pick up the dead birds, and 

 "hustle" the live ones. And great is the 

 sport. From fifty to a hundred " Coots" 

 are often bagged to a boat in a morn- 

 ing's shooting. These birds breed from 

 Labrador northward, making a nest of 

 weeds, moss etc., lined with feathers. The 



eggs are six or more, of a greenish buff, 



and about 2 % x 1 :: , inches. 



(77) 166. Oidemia perspicillata. 

 Surf Scoter, (633.) 



Plumage black, except a patch on the crown 

 and another on the back of the neck pure white. 

 Length 20 inches. 



An abundant winter resilient, but mnch 

 less so than the preceding species. Called 

 "Patch-poll Coots" by the localgunners. 



Very shy birds. Do not come to decoy-, 

 but if one of a pair is killed the other will 

 frequently keep close by untill both are 

 bagged, especially in case the female is 

 shot first. Breeds from Labrador north- 

 ward, laying six or more cream colored 

 eggs, in a nest made of weeds etc., lined 

 with down placed on the ground near 

 water. Eggs about 2% x 1 % inches. 



(72) 107. Erismatura rubida. 

 Ruddy Duck, (634.) 



Above, sides and lower neck, chestnut red. 

 Cheeks, chin, and erissum, white. Crown, nape, 

 and tail black. Beneath grayish white. Wiujxs 

 with fine grayish sprinklings. Length 15 inches. 



An irregular winter visitor. A large 

 flock of these ducks remained in Coecles 

 Harbor, Shelter Island, forseveral weeks, 

 during the winter of 1884, and many of 

 them were shot, but since then scarcely 

 any have been seen. I found (hem at 

 Sapelo Island, Ga., in the winter of 1888 

 and '89. They appear to be comparative- 

 ly stupid, and easily secured when found. 

 Breedsfrom the northern U. S. north- 

 ward. Nest made of reeds etc., lined 

 with grasses, placed on the ground near 

 water. Eggs large for size of bird. 2 \ x 

 1% inches, and grayish white with rough 

 surface. 



Note : — The two following species were 

 accidentia omitted in their proper place, 

 and it is thought best to insert them 

 here, ami continue the list numbers with- 

 out interruption. 



