Having now written a brief outline of the doctrine of Evolution, I believe that I cannot do better than conclude this very imperfect sketch with a quotation from the immortal Shakespeare:
“The truth can never be confirmed enough,
Though doubts did ever sleep.”
Lawrence Irwell.
SURF SCOTER.
(Oidemia perspicillata).
About ½ Life-size.
FROM COL. CHI. ACAD. SCIENCES.
THE SURF SCOTER.
(Oidemia perspicillata.)
The Surf Scoter is also known by several other popular names, such as the Surf Duck, the Surf or Sea Coot and, not infrequently, the Booby. The name Velvet Duck, though more commonly applied to the white-winged scoter, is also sometimes used to designate this species.
This Scoter is an American species and is only an accidental visitor to European coasts. Its range includes the “coasts and larger inland waters of northern North America; in winter, south to Florida, to the Ohio River and to San Quentin Bay, Lower California.”
Our illustration is that of a male bird. The female is a sooty brown, silvery gray below and with much white on the sides of the head.