SCAUP. 53 



present in both ; indeed, the main difference is in the size of 

 this frontal patch, which in the Scaup reaches to the level of the 

 eyes. On rising from calm water the bird splashes along the 

 surface, paddling with its feet, but from the crest of a wave it 

 has less difficulty in getting on the wing. It is sociable, but 

 usually swims in small parties, a dozen or so together, though 

 at times these little gatherings are scattered everywhere, thou- 

 sands of birds in sight at once. Except when resting on the 

 banks it seldom packs closely like the Wigeon. Being a deep- 

 water feeder it can obtain food in rough weather and is not 

 forced ashore by storm ; it feeds where the depth is not too 

 great for it to reach bottom to hunt for molluscs, worms, and 

 crustaceans, or to pull up the sea-grass. The name is sup- 

 posed to be derived from the habit of frequenting the " mussel- 

 scaups " or " scalps," the rocks or estuarine mud-banks where 

 these bivalves live. Cockles and other " shell-fish" are eaten. 



If Seebohm's interpretation of sound is to be relied on, the 

 name may be derived from one of its notes, which he describes 

 as loud and discordan-t, like a man "with an exceptionally 

 harsh, hoarse voice screaming out the word scaup at the top of 

 his voice." But his description is rather discounted by his 

 further remarks about " a peculiar toss of the head," borrowed 

 from Montagu, who states that the bird when it so tosses its 

 head in spring utters a " grunting noise." Mr. Millais, who 

 describes the display in detail, says that when the male throws 

 up its head it utters a gentle note. Indeed, there is much 

 diversity in the description of the sounds uttered by the Scaup, 

 and as I have never heard any except the grating call of alarm, 

 very similar to that of the Tufted Duck, I offer no opinion. 



Scaup congregate to rest on exposed banks in estuaries and 

 bays, and are then difficult to approach, but the small parties 

 met with near the shore are not so shy. I have watched the 

 bird feeding in the marine lake at West Kirby, close to the 

 promenade, and Mr. F. W. Holder tells me that sixty-five 



