344 SWIMMERS. 



France and Switzerland, and \n the United States is observed 

 to winter in the Delaware, and probably proceeds as far as the 

 waters of the Southern States, having been seen in the lower 

 part of Missouri by Mr. Say in the spring. It is abundant also 

 in winter in the Mississippi around and below St. Louis. The 

 breeding-places of this bird, according to the inteUigent and 

 indefatigable Richardson, are in the remote fur countries, 

 from the most southern point of Hudson Bay to their utmost 

 northern limits. 



The Scaup Duck is said to derive its name from feeding on 

 scaup, or broken shell-fish, for which and other articles of sub- 

 sistence, such as marine insects, fry, and marine vegetables, it 

 is often seen diving with great alertness. It is a common 

 species here both in fresh waters and bays, particularly fre- 

 quenting such places as abound in its usual fare, and like 

 most of its tribe it takes advantage of the accommodation ot 

 moonlight. These birds leave the Middle States in April or 

 early in May. 



Both male and female of the Scaup make a similar grunting 

 noise, and have the same singular toss of the head, with an 

 opening of the bill when sporting on the water in the spring. 

 While here they are heard occasionally to utter a guttural 

 quanck, very different from that of Common Ducks. In a 

 state of domestication during the summer months, when the 

 larvae of various insects are to be found in the mud at the 

 bottom of the pond these birds frequent, they are observed to 

 be almost continually diving. They feed, however, content- 

 edly on barley, and become so tame as to come to the edge of 

 the water for a morsel of bread. Mr. Rennie adds, of all the 

 aquatic birds we have had, taken from their native w^lds, none 

 have appeared so familiar as the Scaup. The flesh of this 

 species is but little esteemed, though the young are more 

 tender and palatable. 



The Bluebill is well known to the gunners on the Atlantic, though 

 more common to the southward than on the New England shores^ 

 and abundant in the Western interior. It breeds from about lati- 

 tude 50^ northward, and winters south to Central America. 



