﻿120 ANATID*:. 



pass the time of moulting, after which it journeys with its 

 companions southward as before mentioned. 



The entirely black plumage of this Scoter distinguishes it 

 from other water-fowl ; when on the water it swims with 

 the head and neck much shortened, and its rump very low 

 on the surface. As before mentioned, this bird is very 

 expert in diving, and can remain for some minutes under 

 water. Its walk on land is not performed with greater facility 

 or grace than that of others of its family ; its flight is 

 tolerably quick, sometimes very high in the air, and always 

 accompanied with considerable noise, produced by the beat- 

 ing of its wings : when taking wing from the water, it re- 

 quires a propelling start ; and on alighting, it skims the 

 surface for some distance. When in large companies and 

 on their migration, the Black Scoters journey in a slanting- 

 line. 



The call-note of this species is a vibrating, rough sound, 

 but during the pairing seasons the male utters the syllable 

 tu, tu, tu ! which is answered by the female with the re- 

 sponse of ra, ra, ra ! 



The Black Scoter measures eighteen inches in length : 

 the beak, from the forehead, one inch eight lines ; the tarsus 

 one inch and three-quarters ; the wing, from the carpus to 

 the tip, eight inches and three-quarters. 



The entire plumage of the adult male bird is blue-black ; 

 the beak is black, with a tubercle at the base of the upper 

 mandible; the nostrils and a round space in front of them 

 are orange-yellow ; the legs and toes are reddish-black ; the 

 eyes are brown. 



The female has the head and upper parts of the body 

 sooty-brown, the feathers being edged with a lighter colour ; 

 the chin and throat are pearl-white ; the under parts are 



