. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. 278 ORDERS OF BIRDSâDUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS Our occupation of Alaska, after the Russians, has led to the arming of the natives with modern rifles and shot-guns, before which wild life gen- erally is rapidly being swept out of existence. The White-Winged Scoter1 (sko'ter) quite acceptably represents a group of sea-ducks and deep divers, called Scoters, and of which there are three species resident in North Amer- ica. These are the blackest of all our ducks. The species kno
. The American natural history : a foundation of useful knowledge of the higher animals of North America . Natural history. 278 ORDERS OF BIRDSâDUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS Our occupation of Alaska, after the Russians, has led to the arming of the natives with modern rifles and shot-guns, before which wild life gen- erally is rapidly being swept out of existence. The White-Winged Scoter1 (sko'ter) quite acceptably represents a group of sea-ducks and deep divers, called Scoters, and of which there are three species resident in North Amer- ica. These are the blackest of all our ducks. The species known as the American Scoter southern California, northern Missouri, Illinois and Maryland. Like most of our ducks, it breeds in the far north, and returns to us only for the winter. It is a deep and persistent diver, and it is said that when wounded and pursued it will sometimes dive to the bottom, even fifty feet if necessary, seize a bunch of grass or weeds with its bill, and hold on until it has quite drowned. Its food consists of fish, crustaceans and mollusks. â ' r. '. Female. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. is glossy black throughout, without a single patch of color save the bright orange-yellow which colors the basal half of the bill and its knob. The White-Winged species has a white patch on each wing, technically known as a "specu- lum," and a white patch of variable shape under or in rear of the eye. Above and in rear of the nostrils the bill and skull together are raised into a conspicuous hump, half covered by feathers. Like all the scoters, this bird is a fish-eating duck, and its flesh is so fishy in flavor it is not considered fit for the table. It is widely dis- tributed throughout North America down to 1 Oi-de'mi-a deg-land'i. Average length, 21 inches. The Red-Breasted Merganser2 bravely and handsomely represents what is structurally the lowest group of ducks, known as the Mer- gan'sers, embracing three species. The bill of this bird is long, narrow, and se
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