138 OIDEMIA FUSCA. 



they generally dive ; but often also take to wing and remove 

 to some distance. They rise heavily from the water, ascending 

 at a very small angle, and striking the surface with their 

 wings for some yards. It is perhaps when on wing that they 

 look most beautiful, the conspicuous white patch on their 

 wing contrasting with their black plumage. Thousands of 

 these birds may often be seen in the Firth of Forth, often 

 intermingled with Black Scoters, and sometimes with other 

 birds. 



The Velvet Scoter occurs in winter, here and there, along 

 the whole east coast of Scotland, as well as among the Orkney 

 and Shetland Islands. Although in estuaries it usually 

 appears in small flocks, along the open coast it often collects 

 into very numerous bodies, which may be seen fishing in 

 shallow water, just behind the breakers. In Ireland, as Mr. 

 Thompson informs us, " it has hitherto been observed chiefly 

 on the eastern side of the island, and there very rarely." 



In winter this species extends to the southern coasts of 

 England, but is not common there. In so far as I know, it 

 does not breed in any part of Britain. In summer it betakes 

 itself to the arctic regions of both continents, it being as 

 common along the shores of America as of Europe. Mr. 

 Audubon found them in vast multitudes in Labrador, about 

 the middle of June ; but although some remained to breed on 

 its southern shores, the greater part advanced further north- 

 ward. " The nests were placed within a few feet of the 

 borders of small lakes, a mile or two distant from the sea, and 

 usually under the low boughs of the bushes, of the twigs of 

 which, with mosses and various plants matted together, they 

 are formed. They are large and almost flat, several inches 

 thick, with some feathers of the female, but no down, under 

 the eggs, which are usually six in number, intermediate in 

 size between those of the Eider and King Ducks, measur- 

 ing an inch and three-quarters in length, one and seven- 

 eighths in breadth, of a uniform pale cream colour, tinged 

 with green, not pure white, as stated by some authors." 

 The young, when about a week old, he found to be covered 

 with '* rather stifl" and hair-like down, of a black colour, 

 excepting under the chin, where there was a small patch of 



