. . robins egg. This Scoter is an expert diver, andcan swim such a long distance under water that it is easy forit to escape a gunner in a sailboat by constantly changing thedirection of its flight under water. All the Scoters are hardto kill, and many a man has shot several times at a woundedbird before he has taken it. Sometimes a cripple, if pursued,will dive to the bottom, and seizing some marine plant withits bill will hold on and commit suicide by drowning ratherthan submit to capture by its greatest and most persistentenemy. N
. . robins egg. This Scoter is an expert diver, andcan swim such a long distance under water that it is easy forit to escape a gunner in a sailboat by constantly changing thedirection of its flight under water. All the Scoters are hardto kill, and many a man has shot several times at a woundedbird before he has taken it. Sometimes a cripple, if pursued,will dive to the bottom, and seizing some marine plant withits bill will hold on and commit suicide by drowning ratherthan submit to capture by its greatest and most persistentenemy. Nine Surf Scoters dissected by Mr. W. L. McAtee of theBiological Survey had eaten mussels, per cent.; peri-winkles, per cent.; algae and eelgrass, per cent. 166 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. RUDDY DUCK {Erismatura jamaicensis). Common or local names: Toughhead; Stiff-tailed Widgeon; Dipper; Dapper; Dopper;Bluebill; Broad-bill; Broad-bill Dipper; Hard-headed Broad-bill; BumblebeeCoot; Creek Coot; Spoonbill; Sleepyhead; Dunbird; Female. Male. Length. — About 15 inches. Adult Male in Breeding Plumage. — (Rarely seen in Massachusetts.) Capblack; cheeks and chin white; upper parts, throat and fore neck brightreddish brown; upper part of breast tinged with reddish brown; rest ofunder parts Hght silvery gray; tail brownish black, the quill feathersstiff and pointed; no white on wing; legs and feet ash; bill light blueand broad. Adult Female and Male. — (As commonly seen in fall.) Top of head darkbrown; a dusky stripe through whitish cheek (males have plain whitecheeks in winter, Eaton); back grayish brown, with fine buffy bars;below silvery ash; bill dusky or bluish. Young. — Resemble female; some specimens lack the stripe on differ as to whether these are adult males, females or young. Field Marks. — Size of Teal; figure short, plump, squatty; rather low fore-head, thick neck; long broad bill curves upward. Prefers to dive
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjobherbe, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1912
