46 Allen's naturallst's library. 



us with a flock of ten thousand Black Ducks circHng in a cloud 

 over it. It seems scarcely possible that these were all males 

 whose mates were scattered on the nests over the tundra. 

 More probably they were the accumulation of the late flocks 

 that we had seen migrating down the river, and which most 

 likely consisted of the previous year's birds not yet adult enough 

 to breed. They appear to arrive at their summer quarters very 

 late, and to leave again very early, probably before the autumn 

 moult takes place. If this be so, it will explain the statement 

 of Naumann that the adult males arrive in the Baltic in August, 

 but the young not until two months later; and also that of Mr. 

 Cecil Smith, who found them on the Devonshire coast moult- 

 ing their quills and unable to fly in the middle of September. 

 . . . The usual note of the Common Scoter is a grating 

 kr-kr-kr like that of the Tufted Duck, but in early spring the 

 drake calls to the duck in a double note which is not unmu- 

 sical. It is a bird of very rapid flight, especially on migration, 

 but on the ground it walks clumsily. It swims with perfect 

 ease, and obtains most of its food by diving. The food con- 

 sists of molluscs and aquatic insects, varied with the seeds of 

 water-plants and other vegetable substances." 



Nest. — A hollow scooped in the ground, with a few twigs, 

 dead leaves, and dry grass, but plentifully lined with down. 



Eggs. — Eight or nine in number, of a light creamy stone- 

 colour, smooth, and with a slight gloss. Axis, 2-4-27 inches; 

 diam., 1 7-1 '85. 



Down, — Chocolate-brown, with a decidedly large "eye" of 

 white ; the filamentous tips to the down lighter and more ashy- 

 brown. 



H. THE VELVET SCOTER. CEDEMIA FUSCA. 



Alias fusca, Linn. S. N. i. p. 196 (1766). 



Oideiniafusca, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 134 (1852). 



(Edemia fusca, Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 657, pi. 448 (1877); B. 



O. U. List Br. B. p. 135 (1883); Saunders, ed. Yarn Br. 



B. iv. p. 476 (1885); id. Man. Br. B. p. 455 (1889); 



Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxii. (1892) ; Salvad. Cat. B. 



Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 406 (1895). 

 Fuligulafiisca, Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 605 (1885). 



