ZOOLOGY. 
2G3 
of forehead do not extend one-third the distance from base to tip of bill; the middle of nostril not quite as far as the middle of 
the bill; nostrils linear, acutely pointed anteriorly. 
Color brown; lighter on the neck. Sides and beneath the under surface of the body whitish. An obscure whitish patch at 
the base of the bill, and another on the side of the head behind the eyes. 
Length of male, 19.00 to 20.00 ; wing, 9.40; extent, 33; tarsus, 1.63; commissure, 2.37. 
Uab .—On and near the seacoast of North America, quite far south in winter. Accidental in Europe. 
A fine albino specimen of this duck is in the collection of Mr. F. Gruber, at San Francisco. 
The sea coot is quite common in winter on Puget Sound, where it frequents the same localities 
as the preceding species, and has much the same habits as elsewhere. I obtained several 
specimens at Fort Steilacoom.—S. 
The surf duck or spectacled scoter frequents the same situations as the preceding in 
winter.—C. 
OIDEMIA AMERICANA, Swainsoii. 
Scoter. 
Anas nigra, Wilson, Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 135, pi. lxxii. Not of Linnaeus. 
Anas ( Fuligula ) nigra, Bon. Obs. Wilson, 1825, No. 267. 
Fuligula ( Oidemia) nigra, Bon. Syn. 1828, 390. 
Oidemia americana, Swainson, F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 450 .—Bon. List, 1838 .—Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, 807. 
Fuligula americana Aud. Orn. Biog. V. 1839, 117 ; pi. 408 .—Ib. Syn. 290 .—Ib Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 343; pi. 403. 
Sp. Ch— Male. —Tail of sixteen feathers. Bill much swollen on the basal third; the basal portion of culmen convex and 
rapidly descending; the terminal portion of bill much depressed; the anterior extremity of nostrils half way from the lateral or 
upper feathers at the base of bill to the tip. The swelling at base of bill divided by a furrow along the median line. The frontal 
feathers extend slightly forward in an obtuse point. Bill of female not very dissimilar, lacking the swelling at the base. 
Color entirely black all over, without any white. Bill black along the edges and tip; the swollen basal portion red to beyond 
the nostrils. 
Female. —Brown; lighter on sides of head, throat, and under surface of body, where the feathers have each an obscure dusky 
spot. 
Length, 23.80; wing, 9.20; tarsus, 1.78; commissure, 2.14. 
Eab. —Seacoast of North America. 
The American scoter is less common than the other kinds, and has the same habits.—C. 
The scoters generally arrive from the north in the bays and inlets of Puget Sound about 
October 1, remaining in greater or less numbers throughout the winter. Their flight is low, 
labored, and heavy ; their journeys appearing to be carried on, for the most part, by short 
stages. In these characteristics they resemble closely the two preceding species. They also 
are excessively fat in winter, and have a disagreeable, strong odor, and fishy taste. A specimen 
obtained by me at Fort Steilacoom is now in the Smithsonian collection, marked 4,514.—S. 
Sub-family MERGINAE. The Sheldrakes. 
MERGUS AMERICANUS, C a s s i n. 
Goosander; Sheldrake ; Fish Duck. 
Mergus merganser Wils. Am. Orn. VIII, 1814, 68; pi. lxviii.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 461 .—Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 
460 .—Aud. Orn. Biog. IV, 1838,261; pi. 331 .—Ib. Syn. 1839, 297 .—Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1843, 
387; pi. 411. 
Mergus americanus, Cassin, Pr. A. N. Sc. VI, 1853,187 .—Baird, Gen. Rep. Birds, 813. 
Merganser castor, var. A. americanus, Bon. Comptes Rendus, XLIII, 1856. 
Sp. Ch.—F eathers of the forehead extending on the bill in an acute angle for half the distance between those on the sides 
