48 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
dish-yellow. General plumage black, a white streak about one inch long runs un- 
der and behind eye ; secondaries and tips of greater coverts form a white speculum. 
Female . — Bill blackish and less swollen than in male ; general plumage similar 
to male but paler ; speculum white ; whitish patch on side of head. Length about 
22 inches ; extent about 38 inches ; female smaller. 
Habitat. — Northern North America, breeding in Labrador and the fur countries ; 
south in winter to the Middle States, southern Illinois and southern California. 
Spring- and fall migrant and winter visitor on our principal rivers 
and at Erie bay. At the last mentioned locality this species is some- 
times seen, particularly in the late fall or early winter, in g-ood-sized 
hocks. On the Susquehanna river it is usually found sing-ly or in pairs. 
$ 
Oidemia perspicillata (Linn.). 
Surf Scoter ; Surf Duck ; Booby ; Sea Coot. 
Description. 
Male. — Upper mandible much swollen and frontal feathers extend far forward ; 
maxilla swollen at sides and wider at upper part of base than below ; general color 
black ; a triangular white patch on top of head, beginning at about middle of eyes 
and narrowing as it extends over forehead ; a second white triangular patch, widest 
above on nape and extending down on back of neck ; bill (dried skin) pale-yellowish 
and red, with large rounded black spots on side ; legs red ; iris yellowish. P’'emale 
has a blackish bill which is not swollen at base ; general plumage sooty-brown ; 
lower parts grayish ; sides of head whitish, in some individuals a whitish loral patch ; 
forehead and hind neck brownish black. Length of male about 20 inches ; extent 
about 33. 
Habitat . — Coasts and larger inland waters of northern North America ; in winter 
south to the Carolinas, the Ohio river and Lower California. 
Rather rare spring- and fall migrant and winter resident. When found 
with us this duck inhabits the same localities as the two previously 
described species. In January, 1890, I purchased from a hunter at Erie, 
one of these Scoters, which he had shot on the bay, where he said a flock 
of about twenty had been seen. ^ 
Genus ERISMATURA Bonaparte. 
Erismatura rubida ( W ils. ) . 
Ruddy Duck ; Spine-tailed Duck. 
Description {Plate 63). 
Bill bent upwards and about as long as head, very broad ; nostrils small and situ- 
ated near culmen ; head small ; neck thick ; tail consists of eighteen stiff and narrow 
feathers ; the under surface of shafts of tail feathers channelled ; tail coverts very 
short. 
Male.—B\W bluish ; legs grayish-blue ; iris reddish-brown ; top of head and nape 
blackish ; upper plumage, greater part of neck rusty-brown, brightest on back ; sides 
of head and chin white ; lower parts whitish, breast sometimes very rusty. 
Female and young male. —Top of head and upper parts generally brownish, dotted 
with grayish and reddish-brown ; sides of head grayish-white and rusty lower parts 
grayish-white. A small duck about 15 inches long and 22 inches in extent. 
Habitat. — North America in general, south to Cuba, Guatemala and northern 
South America, breeding throughout most of its North American range. 
