VELVET SCOTER. 137 



Variations. — Individuals vary considerably in size. Males 

 vary in the degree of prominence of the basal parts of the 

 bill, and in its colour, some wanting the two dusky streaks 

 at the side of the unguis. The feathers also encroach on the 

 lateral prominence to a variable extent. The plumage is 

 sometimes more tinged with brown as above described. The 

 females also differ in size, and somewhat in the tints of their 

 plumage and feet. 



Habits. — The Velvet Scoters make their appearance on 

 our coasts in the end of autumn, and depart about the middle 

 of April, although individuals may be seen as late as the 

 middle of May. They frequent the estuaries and bays, espe- 

 cially those of which the bottom is sandy, and the water not 

 of great depth. At this season they procure their food 

 entirely by diving, at which they seem almost as expert as 

 the Ducks and Guillemots, although their speed under the 

 water must be much inferior to that of those birds, as they do 

 not pursue fishes, but live solely on bivalve moUusca of the 

 genera Mactra, Tellina, Solen, Mytilus, Cardium, and others. 

 Some which I have examined from the Bay of Kirkaldy had 

 their gizzards filled with Don ax Trunculus exclusively ; but 

 the particular species taken depends upon the locality. 



When the weather is not boisterous, they fly out to sea in 

 the evening, and return toward the shores or shallows early 

 in the morning, coming generally in small flocks of from five 

 to fifteen or twenty. They fly very low, or at a moderate 

 height, with considerable speed, moving their extended wings 

 quickly, and on arriving at a suitable place relax their speed 

 a little, and alight on their hinder end, the body being kept 

 oblique. They then trim themselves, look into the water, 

 and commence their operations. They sit lightly on the 

 water, swim with moderate speed, dive by sinking head fore- 

 most, rather than by plunging violently, like the fish-pursuing 

 divers, and remain from one to three minutes under. It is of 

 course beautiful to see a flock of any birds emerging in suc- 

 cession ; and I have several times been so near them on such 

 occasions as to see pretty distinctly the colours of their bill and 

 feet. If disturbed by the approach of a boat or other vessel. 



