438 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



ardson, are in the remote fur countries from the most 

 southern point of Hudson's Bay to their utmost northern 

 limits. 



The present species is said to derive its name from feed- 

 ing on scaup, or broken shell-fish, for which, and other ar- 

 ticles of subsistence, such as marine insects, fry, and 

 marine vegetables, it is often seen diving with great alert- 

 ness. It is a common species here both in fresh waters and 

 bays. They particularly frequent such places as abound in 

 their usual fare, and like most of their tribe take advantage 

 of the accommodation of moonlight. They leave the Middle 

 States in April or early in May. 



Both male and female of the Scaup make a similar grunt- 

 ing noise, and have the same singular toss of the head, with 

 an opening of the bill when sporting on the water in the 

 spring. While here, they are heard occasionally to utter a 

 guttural quancJc, very different from that of Common Ducks. 

 In a state of domestication, during the summer months, 

 when the larvae of various insects are to be found in the 

 mud at the bottom of the pond they frequent, they are ob- 

 served to be almost continually diving. They feed, how- 

 ever, contentedly on barley, and become so tame as to come 

 to the edge of the water for a morsel of bread. Mr. Rennie 

 adds, of all the aquatic birds we have had, taken from their 

 native wilds, none have appeared so familiar as the Scaup. 

 The flesh of this species is but little esteemed ; though the 

 young are more tender and palatable. 



In Europe the species is found as high as Iceland ; and 

 in the summer they abound in Russia, Sweden, Norway and 

 Lapland. It is also common on the northern shores of 

 Siberia, and particularly on the great river Ob. 



The Scaup varies in size from 16^ to 18, 19, or 20 inches in 

 length ! the bill above, from 1 inch G^ lines, to 1 inch 9^ ; the tarsus 

 from 1 inch 4 lines, to 1 inch 6. In the male the head and upper 



