152 



British Birds. 



The Common Scoter. 



The Surf Scoter. 



The Velvet Scoter. 



THE COMMON 



SCOTER. 

 {(Edemia tiigrn.) 



The " Black Duck," as it is generally called, is a common 

 winter visitor to all our coasts, and is known by its entirely 

 black coloration, the bill havmg a yellow patch and a swollen 

 knob at the base, while the iris is white. It breeds in the North 

 of Scotland, and is said to nest occasionally in England. It also nests throughout 

 Northern Europe and Siberia, and is only seen inland during the breeding season, 

 when it frequents the shores of lakes ; it is at other times essentially a maritime 

 Duck. The nest consists of a hollow scraped out in the ground and lined with 

 leaves and grass, and the bird's own down. The eggs are eight or nine in number, 

 of a light cream-colour, and slightly glossy ; they measure about two-and-a-half to 

 two-and-three-quarter inches in length. 



This Duck is recognised from the Common Scoter by its 

 slightly larger si;^e, white wing-speculum, orange -yellow bill, and 

 dull crimson or orange-red feet. It is believed that a few breed 

 in some of the highland lochs in Scotland, but it is principally 

 known as a winter visitor to Great Britain. Its nesting-home is from Scandinaxia 

 throughout Northern Europe and Siberia, and it visits Southern Europe, Central Asia 

 and China in winter. It feeds principally on molluscs, which it obtains by diving. 

 The nest is found on the shores of inland lakes and rivers, and is a mere depression 

 in the ground, lined with grass and down. The eggs are eight or nine in number, of a 

 creamv stone-colour, and measure two-and-three-quarters to three inches in length. 

 This is the largest of the three British Scoters, and has the bill 

 reddish with a black spot on each side ; the feet are crimson with 

 orange-chrome on both sides of the inner toes; the iris is white. 

 There is no white speculum on the wing, but there is a white 

 patch on the crown and another on the back of the neck. It is 



THE VELVET 



SCOTER. 

 {(Edemin fusca.) 



THE 



SURF SCOTER. 



{(Kdt:mia 



pcrsjtiiillata ) 



