TUFTED SCAUP-DUCK. 125 



worms, in quest of which it dives. It very seldom appears in 

 flocks of large size, from two to six or eight individuals being- 

 more commonly met with. Like the other species of this 

 genus, it has a rapid, direct flight, swims with rapidity, dives 

 most expertly, and is with difliculty shot on the water. It 

 rises with ease on wing, alights abruptly, and in its habits 

 resembles the Golden-eyed Garrot. When the fresh waters 

 are frozen, it betakes itself to the sea, like all the other 

 species, and subsists chiefly on bivalve moUusca. Even 

 during open weather it is often seen in the shallow bays, and 

 especially in estuaries, Montagu states that it is often " shot 

 on Slapton Ley, in South Devon, a large piece of water close 

 to the sea, and is by the natives called Black Wigeon." From 

 thence northward on both sides of the island it is not uncom- 

 mon, until beyond the Firths of Clyde and Tay, when it 

 becomes of less frequent occurrence. In Ireland it " is a 

 regular winter visitant." Although its flesh is good, it is not 

 in much request as an article of food, but it is not uncommon 

 in the markets. It retires to the arctic regions to breed, 

 although some, according to M. Temminck, remain in the 

 temperate climates. In winter it is dispersed over the western 

 and southern parts of Europe ; but it is not met with at any 

 season in America. 



Young. — In their first plumage, according to M. Tem- 

 minck, the young have no appearance of a crest. " There is 

 a large whitish spot on the sides of the bill (on the sides of 

 the head close to the base of the bill) ; white on the forehead 

 and sometimes behind the eyes ; the head, neck, and breast 

 dull brown, varied on the breast with reddish-broAvn ; the 

 feathers of the back and wings blackish-brown, margined 

 with lighter brown ; the flanks of a reddish-brown ; the band 

 on the wing small and whitish ; the abdomen variegated with 

 grey and brown ; the iris pale yellow. The young males have 

 the breast of a purer white than the young females." 



Young in Winter. — The following description is from 

 a young bird shot by my son on Duddingston I^och, on the 

 18th February, 1841. The bill light greyish-blue, with a 



