168 Wiu> Birds and their Haunts 



THE SCAUP (FULIGULA MARITA). 



THIS very handsome species will give some idea of 

 the general form of the pochards. 

 In form these birds are compact and heavy, 

 the wings comparatively short, but sharp pointed, and 

 propelling the bird, when once fairly raised, by short but 

 rapid and oft-repeated strokes. The body is broad and 

 depressed, of a form fitted for buoyancy, but at the same 

 time, from its weight, sinking deep in the water when 

 swimming. 



This bird is a regular winter visitant to the coasts on 

 the North of England and South of Scotland, and from 

 the testimony of most writers it is nearly equally so on 

 both the southern and northern extremes of our island. 



It arrives about the end of October, and continues with 

 us till spring, frequenting the lower lying coasts of a 

 soft or muddy character, and feeding on sea grass and 

 vegetable substances, the smaller bivalves, which are 

 generally found there in abundance. Its usual practice 

 is to stick to the sea in preference to fresh-water streams. 

 It is a shy and wary bird, assembling in flocks and feeding 

 together ; at the same time, with a stormy wind, one 

 can get within shot, especially when feeding in the muddy 

 creeks of the Solway Firth. 



The male in full plumage is a showy bird ; the bill is a 

 bright, bluish-grey, with a black nail ; the head and neck 

 brackish-green, with glossy green and purple reflections, 

 the plumage full, and of a silky texture ; the lower part of 

 the neck and breast are deep black, belly and flanks white, 

 the vent waved with narrow lines of blackish-grey ; the 

 mantle and scapular feathers, contrasting with the other 

 dark plumage, are clear greyish-white, strongly marked 

 with wavy zigzag lines ; quills black, secondaries having 

 short black tips, but with the base white, forming a light 

 bar, lesser covers traversed by white lines ; legs and feet 

 bluish-grey, webs darker. 



