122 NOTES FROM THE ROCKS, 



the latter end of August, when a thin crust of ice forms during the night 

 on the Arctic sea, the female may be often seen breaking a way with her 

 wings for her young brood/'* 



The habits of this beautiful bird, in common with many others, may easily 

 be studied with a good pocket telescope, an instrument of great service to 

 every sea-side ornithologist, and one which ought in many cases to supersede 

 the deadly fowling-piece. Many a time and oft, have both been levelled 

 at the species now under notice, by the hand that pens this hint 5 but, it 

 must candidly be admitted, that the former serves every purpose for the 

 student whose pursuits do not embrace anatomical details, or whose cabinet 

 is not in want of a specimen. 



In fine weather the Northern Hareld may be seen in small bands, (generally 

 a male and two or three females,) floating over the sand-banks in various 

 parts of the Frith of Forth, where they procure their food by diving. When 

 the naturalist has discovered them at this employment, let him use his glass, 

 and he will see the whole disappear at intervals under the water, with the 

 exception of one which does the duty of sentinel, when they are fishing in 

 dangerous proximity to the shore. I have watched them when so engaged, 

 at a distance of about one hundred yards: they were diving for shells and 

 Crustacea to a depth of eighteen or twenty feet, — a good performance when 

 it is considered they had only the resistance of the water to act upon without 

 the impetus of a plunge. On this occasion I could see the long tail feathers 

 of the male jerked upwards when he dived, and when the party approached 

 nearer my place of concealment, it was interesting to notice them reappearing 

 at the surface, and devouring what they had caught. It is seldom, however, 

 an opportunity can be had of seeing them feeding; they seem indeed rather 

 shy in approaching land. Like the Corn-crake it is oftener heard than seen; 

 and though the bird is well known to fishermen and others frequenting the 

 sea-shore, by its loud and clangulous cry of 'calloo,' few of them could identify 

 a specimen in the hand. The 'calloo' is often heard in stormy weather, and 

 has a wild eiFect when heard above the sound of the waves; it gives rise to 

 the name of ^coal and candle light,' amongst Scottish rustics. I have found it 

 a difficult matter to get a specimen of this Fuligula, though it is tolerably 

 common in Dunbar bay throughout the winter; the best plan is for the 

 sportsman to go a little way out to sea in a small boat, by which means it 

 may be easily approached. 



We have on the table before us a beautiful male bird of this species; and 

 by its side are lying a pair of Broad-billed Scaups, the acquisition of which 

 cost us a little .trouble at the time, and many days and nights of it afterwards; 

 and with the following extracts from one of our Journals, we conclude our 

 present chapter: — 



One stormy evening in January, 1848, we set out with a companion in 

 search of Scaups for our museum; and having arrived at a suitable place where 



* Faun: Bor: Amer: p. 438. 



