24 
BIRDS OF DURHAM AND VICINITY. 
never so abundant as on the coast. At Hampton they are plentiful 
in the fall, but when winter comes on they move farther south. They 
are here again in April on their return journey to their arctic homes. 
The male is wholly black, and the female has no white either on head 
or wing, by which both sexes may be distinguished from the other 
scoters. All the scoters feed chiefly upon shell-fish. 
Oidemia deg-landi. White-winged Scoter. 165. 
This coot is found under similar conditions as the last, and in 
about the same numbers according to gunners who shoot them. Both 
sexes have a distinguishing mark in the white wing-bar, which is not 
found on either of the other coots. 
Oidemia perspicillata. Surf Scoter. 166. 
Surf Scoters, or Skunk-headed Coots, as they are locally tenned, are 
plentiful at Hampton and elsewhere on the coast, spring and fall, and 
are not unfrequently found on Great Bay. I have a pair, killed in 
Newmarket river in the spring of 1900 by Mr. Shute, which are the 
only ones ever seen in fresh water by that veteran duck hunter. The 
food of this species is similar to that of the other scoters. Old and 
young have more or less white on the head but none on the wings. 
All coots are much hunted both for sport and profit, though their 
flesh savors rather too strongly of fisli to be in favor with every one. 
Erismatura rubida. Ruddy Duck. 167. 
This little migrant, I believe, is not very common. Mr. Shaw has 
one adult male in summer plumage, and one or two more in winter 
dress, in his collection, all taken at Hampton. It is quite as much at 
home in fresh water as salt and is likely to be seen anywhere. Its 
food is chiefly of a vegetable nature, procured from the bottom by 
diving, but insects and mollusks are also eaten to some extent. 
Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. 172. 
Canada or wild geese, are frequently seen in November and April 
as they pursue their migrations. More or less of them annually 
alight in Great Bay, and instantly become the centre of attraction for 
numerous gunners, who are continually on the watch for passing water 
fowl. They are easily tamed, and make interesting pets. If they 
