BROAD-BILLED SCAUP-DUCK. 119 



The upper parts are brownish-black, the greater part of the 

 back, scapulars, and wing-coverts finely undulated Avith 

 white ; the wings and tail as in the male ; the middle of the 

 breast white ; the sides undulated and broadly patched or 

 banded with brown ; the hind parts undulated with brown 

 and white ; the axillars Avhite ; the lower wing-coverts as in 

 the male. A broad band of white on the forehead, becoming 

 narrow along the basal margin of the lower mandible. 



Length to end of tail 18 inches ; extent of wings 28 ; bill 

 1-L| J wing 8f ; tail 2^ ; tarsus 1^ ; middle toe 2-^, its claw 



6 

 1 2' 



Habits. — The Scaup Pochard arrives on our coasts in the 

 end of October, and continues to increase until the middle of 

 winter. In the estuaries, and along the flat shores, it is met 

 with plentifully, often in very large flocks. It is very rarely 

 met with in fresh water, its food consisting chiefly of marine 

 testaceous mollusca, for which it dives, like the Scoters, often 

 mingling with them and other species. Its flight is moderately 

 quick, usually performed at no great height above the water, 

 on which it alights abruptly on its hind part. Although it 

 rises without difficulty, it usually prefers diving to escape 

 pursuit ; and so expert is it in this act, that it is very 

 difficult to shoot it on the water. It swims strongly, sitting 

 rather deep, and on diving remains long before it emerges. 

 Being generally abundant during winter and spring, it is 

 common in the markets, but is not much esteemed as an 

 article of food, its flesh being rather rank. Montagu states 

 that both the male and the female have a habit of tossing up 

 their heads and opening their bills, which in spring is con- 

 tinued for a considerable time while they are swimming and 

 sporting on the water, and they emit a grunting sort of cry. 

 At high water it is seen resting in flocks at some distance 

 from the shores, which it approaches when the tide recedes. 

 In the end of March and beginning of April they disappear 

 from our coasts, and are said to resort to the northern parts 

 of Europe, where they rear their young. The species occurs 

 equally in North America, frequenting in winter the large 

 rivers, as well as the bays, and feeding partly on vegetable 

 substances. When kept in confinement it readily eats grain. 



