118 SEA DUCKS.

Labrador and the northern interior; south in winter to Virginia, the Great Lakes, and California.

Washington, casual W. V. Long Island, common W. V., Oct. through Apl. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Oct. Cambridge, occasional 1n fall.

Next. 011 the ground, near water. Eggs, “six to ten, pale dull bufl' or pale brownish buff, 2-55 x 1'80 ” (Ridgw.).

All three species of Surf Scoters, or “ Coots,” are abundant winter residents off the coasts of the New England and northern Middle States. At this time their habits are practically alike—indeed, they are often found associated. As a rule, they frequent only the sea and its estuaries, where they live over beds of mussels, clams, or scallops, which they obtain by (living; but they are sometimes found in ponds near the coast, where food of this nature is abundant.

In The Auk for 1891. pp. 279—290, Mr. George H. Mackay gives the results of a long-continued study of Scoters on the Massachusetts coast.

The VELVET Scorers (164. Oz'deme'a fused) is an Old- World species which has been recorded from Greenland.

165. Oidemla. deglandl Bonap. WHITE-WINGED Scores; W111“:- wmeEn Coor. Ad. 6.—A spot below the eye and the speculum white, rest of the plumage black; bill orange-black at the base, the feathers on it reach— ing forward far beyond the corners of the mouth. 1m. .3 .-—Grayish or fus- cous—brown, lighter below ; speculum white, feathers at the base of the upper bill and a spot on the ears whitish. Ad. in winter and Im. 9 .—Similar to the preceding, but generally without whitish spots on the head. L., 2200; W., 1100 ; Tar., 2'00 ; B. along culmen, 1‘50: B. along side, 1‘55.

Remarks. ——The white speculum and feathering of the bill will always serve to distinguish this species from its allies.

Range. —Northern North America, breeding in Labrador and the fur countries; south in Winter to Virginia southern Illinois, and California.

Washington, casual W. V.. Oct. to Apl. Long Island, abundant W. V., Sept. 15 to May 15. Sing Sing, tolerably common T. V. Cambridge, occa- sional' 1n fall.

1" 6,5! on the ground, beneath bushes, frequently some distance from water. Eggs, “ six to ten, pale dull bulf, varying to cream- color, 2 68 x 1 83 ” (Ridgw. ).

166- Oidemia. perspicillata, (Lima). SURF Scorer: ; SEA Coor. Ad. 6 .—A square mark on the crown and a triangular one on the nape white,

rest of the plumage black; bill orange-yellow, a large circular black spot on its side at the base ; feathers on the culmen extending nearly to a level with the nostril, feathers on the side of the bill not extending forward. Ad. 9 and Im.—A whitish spot at the base of the bill and on the ears; upper parts fuseous brown; throat, breast, sides, and lower belly grayer, belly white. L., 2000 ; W., 9'30; Tar., 1‘60 ; B. along culmen, 1'55; B. along side, 2'30. Remarks—The forward extension of the feathers on the culmen will