Part 140

Pied Duck, Fuligula labradora, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 271.

**** Bill about the length of the head, very broad; upper mandible with a prominence at the base above, and two lateral protuberances; unguis very large, slightly arched.

402. 7. Fuligula fusca, Linn. Velvet Duck.

Bill with an abrupt prominence in front, the lateral protuberances covered with feathers; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff, narrow feathers. Male with the basal prominence and sides at the base black, toward the end bright red; unguis flesh-coloured, with a black line on each side; feet carmine on the outer, orange-red on the inner side, webs greyish-black; plumage brownish-black, glossed with blue above, lighter beneath; outer secondary quills and a spot beneath the eye white. Female with the bill dusky, its basal prominence slight; plumage sooty-brown, breast and abdomen lighter; two whitish spots on each side of the head; outer secondary quills white, as in the male.

Male, 22, 39. Female, 22, 38.

From the coast of Georgia eastward to Nova Scotia, during winter, when it is extremely abundant in all the estuaries and bays. Breeds from Labrador northward.

Velvet Duck, Anas fusca, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 137.

Fuligula fusca, Bonap. Syn. p. 390.

Oidemia fusca, Velvet Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 449.

Velvet Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 419.

Velvet Duck, Fuligula fusca, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 354.

403. 8. Fuligula perspicillata, Linn. Surf Duck.

Plate CCCXVII. Male and Female.

Bill with a gently sloping prominence in front, the lateral protuberances bare; tail wedge-shaped, of fourteen stiff narrow feathers. Male with the bill deep reddish-orange, bluish-white on the sides, with a black patch, the unguis greyish-yellow; tarsi and toes orange-red, webs dusky; plumage deep black, glossed with blue; a white patch on the top of the head, and another on the nape. Female with the bill greenish-black; the plumage brownish-black, darker on the top of the head, back, wings, and tail.

Male, 20, 33-1/2. Female, 19, 31-1/2.

Abundant from Nova Scotia to Maryland during winter, and removing southward to the mouth of the Mississippi in severe weather. Never seen in the interior. Breeds from Labrador northwards.

Black or Surf Duck, Anas perspicillata, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 49.

Fuligula perspicillata, Bonap. Syn. p. 389.

Oidemia perspicillata, Surf Duck, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 449.

Black or Surf Duck, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 416.

Surf Duck, Fuligula perspicillata, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 161.

404. 9. Fuligula Americana, Swains. American Scoter Duck.

Plate CCCCVIII. Male and Female.

Bill a little shorter than the head, with an obtuse prominence at the base of the upper mandible; tail graduated, acuminate, of sixteen pointed feathers; first quill with the inner web extremely attenuated. Male with the bill black, the basal prominence rich orange; feet brownish-black; the general colour of the plumage black, on the lower parts tinged with brown, the inner webs of the quills brownish-grey. Female with the bill brownish-black, and having scarcely any protuberance at the base; the upper parts light sooty-brown, the lower light brownish-grey.

This species differs very little from Fuligula nigra, being nearly of the same size, proportions, and colours. The male differs from that of the other species in having the sides of the unguis narrowed, and the orange patch on the upper mandible less extended beyond the nostrils, and destitute of the median black line and lateral streak.

Male, 19, 33-1/2. Female, 17, 29-1/2.

In winter abundant in the Bays of Boston, New York, and Chesapeake, and as far south as the mouth of the Mississippi. Never inland. Breeds from Labrador to the Arctic seas.

Scoter Duck, Anas nigra, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 135.