210 
All the upper part of the plumage in 
the female is of a dark brown colour; the 
under parts of a whitish grey streaked 
and spotted with dark brown. Between 
the eyes and the beak, and upon the ears a 
white spot. The beak is of a dark ash co- 
lour ; the hides brown, the legs and toes 
of a dirty red. 
This species may be considered rare in 
in this country, it is sometimes seen in com- 
pany with the Scoters, and has been taken 
in the fishermen's nets. They are more 
plentiful on the Continent, inhabiting Den- 
mark and Russia : in some parts of Siberia 
they are very common, and they are known 
to breed at Hudson's Bay. In the winter 
season they retire to the southward, in 
greater or less numbers, according to the 
severity of the weather, approaching the 
temperate climes of both hemispheres. In 
the breeding season they are said to go far 
inland to lay their eggs, which are eight 
or ten in number, wholly white. The 
males forsake the other sex after the breed- 
ing season is over, leaving their progeny 
entirely to the care of the females, who 
