THE VELVET SCOTER Œdemia fusca (Linnæus)

This species closely resembles the last in habits, but is much scarcer round our coasts and generally keeps farther out to sea.

It is a rather larger bird than the Common Scoter, and of a dense velvety black, with a small white spot behind each eye and a white bar across the wing. The bill is orange yellow, with a large black basal knob and a narrow dark line along the culmen. Legs orange. The female is brown, rather lighter underneath, and has a dull white patch before, and a smaller one behind, each eye. Bill dark. Legs reddish. Length 22 in.; wing 10·75 in.

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