Object Status:
Extant
Accession Date:
By 1799
Primary Source Reference:
Charles Willson Peale, Lecture on Natural History 21. (ca. 1799). Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40. / https://ansp.org/research/library/archives/0000-0099/coll0040/
Additional Source Text:
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) wrote, in his 21st Lecture (ca. 1799): "500. American Scoter. This is certainly a variety of the No. 498 [Common Scoter, M. nigra]. The general plumage the same, but the bill differs in having less of the protuberance at the base and is rather longer than the other." An undated scrap of paper tucked into Peale's 21st lecture manuscript contains a scribbled list of duck specimens, including: "American Scoter (macrieuse [?])" (Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University Archives, coll. 40)
Alexander Wilson (1766-1813) described this species under the name "Scoter Duck / Anas nigra" in American Ornithology vol. 8, published posthumously (Pl. 72), where "Peale's Museum, No. 2658" was cited (Wilson 1814: 135). / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/159/mode/1up (text) / https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/175758#page/154/mode/1up (plate)
Specimen Type:
Dead/preserved
Current Common Name:
Black Scoter
Current Scientific Name
Anatidae | Melanitta americana
