228 British Birds, 



STELLER'S EIDER OR WESTERN DUCK— 



{Somateria Stelleri ; formerly, Polysticta Stelleri). 



Exceedingly rare in Britain, and not much less so, 

 it seems, in Europe generally. 



COMMON SCOTER— ((S'^^;/2/^ nigra). 



Scoter, Black Scoter, Black Duck, Black Diver. — 

 This dusky-coloured Duck is seen in considerable 

 numbers on various parts of our coasts in winter, and 

 always swimming and diving in what may be called 

 " loose order," like the Coots rather than any of the 

 true Ducks. It does not, however, ever stay to breed 

 with us, and can have no further notice here. 



VELVET ^Q;OT'm.—{CEdemia fused). 



Velvet Duck. — A winter visitor, and rare on our 

 south coasts. More common in the far north of 

 Britain. 



SURF ^Q>OTE:^—{CEdemia perspicillatd). 



A bird of very rare, and, perhaps also it may be 

 added, very local occurrence. 



GOOSANDER — {Mergns merganser). 



Dun Diver, Sparling Fowl, Jacksaw, Saw-bill. — A 

 few of these birds also remain to breed in Britain, 

 though by far the most retire to the north of Europe 

 for that purpose. Its nests are common both in the 

 Orkney Islands and the Hebrides. They are large, 

 made of dry grass and roots, and lined with the down 

 of the female, and placed amid bushes or stones, or in 



