BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
47 
pearance a few hours after a severe storm, which lasted for two days, 
had visited the region of the Great Lakes. About fourteen of these 
ducks, which the hunters called “ boobies ”—a name that is also given 
by them to the surf ducks which freqently visit the bay—were shot by 
three or four gunners, who had no trouble in approaching within a few 
yards of the stupid ducks which were found swimming close to the 
dock where a large number of men were engaged in unloading iron ore 
from vessels. 
Through the kindness of Mr. James Thompson, of Erie, Mr. Geo. B. 
Bennett and I secured, from gunners, seven of these birds, six immature 
males (all of which varied greatly in plumage) and one female. Two 
hunters, who unfortunately before they knew we were anxious to pre¬ 
serve the ducks for our collections, had cooked three or four which they 
had captured, said the dark-colored flesh was tough, stringy and so rank 
and unsavory that they could not eat it. The oldest hunters assured us 
they had never before seen ducks of this kind in that locality. 
Note. —A duck supposed to be the American Eider ( Somateria 
dresseri) was captured in the winter of 1886, near Chadd’s Ford, Dela¬ 
ware county, but as the bird was not positively identified, I have not 
included it among the birds of our state. 
Genus OIDEMIA Fleming. 
Oidemia americana Sw. & Rich. 
American Scoter ; Booby ; Sea Coot. 
Description. 
Bill high at base and swollen. 
Adult Male. —Bill (dried skin) base of upper mandible reddish-yellow, rest 
blackish ; iris brown ; tarsi blackish ; entire plumage black, the neck and back with 
slight gloss. Female sooty-brown ; throat and sides of head whitish, lower plumage 
is lighter than that of upper parts; belly grayish-white ; bill blackish and smaller 
than that of male. A male measures 19£ inches long and 35 inches from tip to tip; 
female smaller. 
Habitat.— Coasts and larger lakes of northern North America; breeds in Labrador 
and the northern interior; south in winter to New Jersey, the Great Lakes and 
California. 
Rather rare migrant in spring and autumn, and occasional winter 
visitor on Susquehanna and Delaware rivers. At Erie bay this species 
is said to be of very rare occurrence. 
Oidemia deglandi Bonap. 
White-winged Scoter; Booby. 
Description. 
Male. _Bill much swollen and high at base; feathers extend on sides near nos- 
trils ; bill quite broad, black at base and on edges ; rest red ; eyes yellow ; legs red- 
