File:The birds of Europe (1837) (14747499491).jpg

Identifier: birdsEuropeVGoul (find matches)
Title: The birds of Europe
Year: 1837 (1830s)
Authors: Gould, John, 1804-1881
Subjects: Pictorial works Birds
Publisher: London, Printed by R. and J.E. Taylor, pub. by the author
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
ur and ornamental in its markings, and in none of the species isthis peculiarity more conspicuous than in the Surf Scoter; this feature, however, is found in the males alone,the females of the three species, which, we may remark, very closely resemble each other, having the beakplain, and nearly uniform in colour. The adult plumage, which presents no difference in summer and winter, may be thus described: The male has the bill scarlet and yellowish white, with a large black mark on each side of the swollenbasal portion; the whole of the plumage glossy black, with the exception of a patch of white on the top ofthe head and another on the occiput; the irides greyish white; legs and toes red; interdigital membraneblack. The female differs from the male in having the whole of the plumage dull brown, which is lightest aboutthe face, cheeks, and under surface; the beak dark olive; feet greyish brown. The Plate represents a male and female, rather more than three fourths of the natural size.
Text Appearing After Image:
ov; VELVET SCOTER. Oidemia fusca, Flem. La grande ou double Macreuse. This is the largest species of the genus Oidemia, and may be readily distinguished from both its congeners(Oid. perspicillata and Oid. nigra?) by the snow-white bar across the wing and the patch of white situatedbeneath the eye. It also differs very considerably in the conformation of its bill, in which, however, itapproximates most nearly to Oid. perspicillata ; for although it is much more dilated, still it presents traces ofthe swollen tubercle, but to a less extent than in either of the other species. The northern regions of the globe constitute the true habitat of all the members of the group; the presentspecies retires within the Arctic Circle during the summer, and regularly migrates to the southern seas onthe approach of severe weather. It is found in considerable abundance on various parts of our northern coasts,where it feeds upon muscles, mollusca, &c, which it always obtains by diving. It is very abu

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