in winter to the New England
States and rarely farther on the eastern side, and to the Aleutians on
the Pacific; also casually to the Great Lakes in the interior.

A handsome and very different species from any of the foregoing, having
the crown ashy blue, and the long scapulars black instead of white. It
also has a broad V-shaped mark on the throat. Like all the other Eiders,
the female is mottled brown and black, the different species being very
difficult to separate. The nests are sunk in the ground and lined with
down. Eggs number from six to ten. Size 2.80 x 1.80. Data.--Point
Barrow, Alaska, July 5, 1898. Five eggs. Nest a hollow in the moss on
tundra lined with moss and down. Collector, E. A. McIlhenny.

163. SCOTER. _Oidemia americana._

Range.--Northern North America, breeding from Labrador, the Hudson Bay
region and the Aleutian Islands northward; winters south to Virginia,
the Great Lakes and California.

Scoters or "Coots" as they are generally called are sea ducks whose
plumage is almost wholly black; they have fantastically colored and
shaped bills. The American Scoter is entirely black without markings;
base of bill yellow and orange. This species nest as do the Eiders,
often concealing the nest, of grass and feathers, under some overhanging
rock. They lay from six to ten eggs of a dingy buff color. Size 2.50 x
1.70. Data.--Mackenzie Bay, June 15, 1899. Ten eggs. Nest a hollow in
the sand, lined with down.

[Illustration 106: King Eider. Scoter.]
[Illustration: Buff.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]

Page 105

164. VELVET SCOTER. _Oidemia fusca._

An Old World species that has accidentally occurred in Greenland.

165. WHITE-WINGED SCOTER. _Oidemia deglandi_.

Range.--Abundant in North America, breeding from Labrador, North Dakota
and British Columbia, northward. Wintering south to the Middle States,
southern Illinois and southern California.

The largest of the Scoters, length 22 inches, distinguished by a large
white speculum on the wing, also a white comet extending from under the
eye backwards. It also has a yellow eye. Like the other Scoters, this
species often feeds in very deep water. They are strong, active diving
birds, and are also strong on the wing, generally flying close to the
surface of the water. Their flesh is not regarded as good eating,
although they are often sold for that purpose. They nest on the ground,
generally in long grass or under low bushes making a coarse n