OIDEMIA.
Bill broad, swollen at base in adult d and flattening gradually towards point. Eggs brownish.
Oidemia nigra nigra (L.). COMMON SCOTER. Fr. Macreuse ; Ger. Trauerente ; Ital. Orchetto marino ; Swett. Sjoorre.
6 Black ; tail 16 feathers ; ist primary very short, about half length of coverts, 2nd shorter than 3rd and emarginate on inner web from about the middle. Bill with tubercle bluish black, on upper part a large yellow patch which includes the nostrils and reaches to about to m.m. from tip. Legs and feet dark slaty brown. ? Brown, sides of head pale brown or whitish. Bill dull black. Wing S 223-235, 220-229. Tarsus 41-43. Bill .Breeds.—Spitzbergen (few), Iceland, Scotland and Ireland (small numbers), N. Europe from C. and N. Norway and Sweden, east to N. Russia ; \Vaigatz, Nova Zembla ; and in Siberia east to Taimyr Peninsula. Migrates ; in winter common on North Sea and British Coasts, less so in Baltic ; also passes through C. Europe to Black and Caspian Seas, Hungary, Rumania, N. Italy and \V. Europe south to Spain and \V. Morocco ; rare in Madeira, Canary Islands, Azores.
Oidemia fusca fusca (I..). VELVET SCOTER. Fr. Grande Macreuse ; Ger. Sammetente ; Pal. Orco marino ; Swed. Svarta.
6 Black, with a white patch under eye, and white bar across wing ; tail 14 feathers ; ist primary short, more than half length of coverts, 2nd longest and not emarginate on inner web, 3rd usually a little shorter. Bill orange yellow, base and tubercle black, nail flesh colour. Legs and feet red, webs dusky black. Iris white. 9 Brown, with a dull white patch before and behind eye, frontal feathers terminating square ; wing with a white bar. Bill dusky slate. Legs dull red. Iris brown.
Wing 265-288, 9 26o-273. Tarsus 45-5o. Bill 6' 44-46, 9 40-46.
Breeds.—Norway to Finmark, Finland, Lapland, Sweden, Oland, Gothland, N. Russia south to Pinsk Marshes and Simbirsk Govt., Nova Zembla, Kolguev, Waigatz ; and in Siberia east to Yenisei. Wanders south in autumn and winter ; occurs on passage in C. Russia, and in winter British Isles and Continental Europe from in Norway to Spain, Italy, Black Sea, Asia Minor and S. Caspian ; not common in Mediterranean, rare N.W. Africa ; occasional in Faroes, rare in Greenland.
Oidemia perspicillata (L.). SURF SCOTER.
Black ; a patch on crown and one on nape white ; tail 14 feathers ; ist primary about s length of coverts, 2nd primary slightly emarginate on inner web and about equal to third. Iris white. Bill orange red above, base swollen and black, nail yellow, below flesh coloured. Legs and feet pinkish red, webs black. 9 resembles 9 "fusca " but without wing bar ; behind ear coverts and on lores dull white spots, frontal feathers terminate in a point. Bill greenish black. . Legs and feet orange, webs blackish. Iris as in 6. Wing g 240-236, 9 223-235. Tarsus Bill 6` 34-37, 9 35-38 (\V.).
Breeds.—Arctic N. America from Alaska to Hudson Bay and Greenland (Disco). Occurs occasionally in N.W. Europe from Lapland and Finland to France. Casual in British Isles.