360 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



"scaps," or mussel-beds (whence presumably their name), 

 and even on the edg"e of the ooze, where these ducks 

 occasionally vary their shell-fish diet {Tellina zonata, 

 shrimps, and small crustaceans) with a feed of sea-grass. 

 They always, however, keep afloat, or nearly so ; it is 

 very seldom one sees a scaup or golden-eye go on to 

 dry land, nor (on the coast) have I ever heard either 

 species utter any note. 



Scaup are the tamest of the duck-tribe, and — exactly 

 the reverse of the golden-eye — they may be as easily 

 approached throughout the winter as when they first arrive 

 in October. On seeing a pack, one may shove the punt 

 close in upon them, and then, if scattered, wait securely 

 till they arrange themselves nicely to receive the charge. 

 Scaup are also among the toughest of birds and the most 

 tenacious of life ; and are of no value, beyond their 

 interest as specimens, being the strongest and most 

 uneatable ducks I ever tried. 



The following extract from a note-book is illustrative 

 of the two points just described — namely, the tameness 

 and the toughness of these ducks. "January 5th ; Early 

 this morning came on four scaup, feeding, half-afloat, 

 in the dark; stopped three with a shot from 10-bore — 

 only got two, a young drake and an old one. Later in 

 day, came on seven, very squandered : after getting 

 within fifty yards, we lay by them for several minutes 

 till they were ranged in a line, when I fired and laid all 

 seven on their backs — three apparently dead, four winged. 

 Shoved in and commenced playing on latter with small 

 gun, when one by one six of them disappeared, and 

 though the sea was like glass, we saw not one of these 

 again ! We thus lost, at the moment, seven out of ten 

 crippled scaup, though jhree or four of these were picked 



