424 ANATID^. 



The Scaup Duck, however, in the Old World, where it feeds 

 on small fish, mollusks, aquatic insects, and marine plants, 

 is by no means in request for the table, as its flesh is 

 generally coarse, dark in colour, and fishy in flavour. The 

 greater part of its food is obtained by diving, at which it is 

 very expert, but, like most of the short-winged diving-ducks, 

 it gets upon wing from the surface of the water but slowly, 

 prefers rising against the wind, and flies at a moderate 

 pace. What it wants, however, in speed, it appears to make 

 up in caution, and it is considered a difficult bird to 

 approach.* Its name of Scaup Duck is, according to 

 Willughby, derived from the bird feeding among broken 

 shells, which are called scaup ; or on the beds of oysters 

 and muscles which are in the north called oyster scalp, and 

 muscle scalp [scallop]. 



Montagu, who kept both sexes of this species alive in 

 confinement many years, observed " that they associated 

 together, apart from all other Ducks, made the same grunt- 

 ing noise, and both had the same singular toss of the head, 

 attended with an opening of the bill, which, in the spring, 

 is continued for a considerable time while swimming and 

 sporting on the water. This singular gesture would be 

 sufficient to identify the species, were all other distinctions 

 wanting." 



In the case of one female which died, Montagu states 

 that " the cause of death appeared to be in the lungs, 

 and in the membrane that separates them from the other 

 viscera ; this last was much thickened, and all the cavity 

 within was covered with mucor, or blue mould. It is a 

 most curious circumstance to find this vegetable produc- 

 tion growing within a living animal, and shows that where 

 air is pervious, mould will be found to obtain, if it meets 

 with sufficient moisture, and a place congenial to vegetation. 



* [The above is the Author's statement. Mr. A. Chapman, who has had 

 much experience on the Northumberland coast, where this species is known 

 by the name of ' Covie,' says that it is the tamest of the Duck-tribe, and it is 

 easy to take a punt within short range ; it takes very hard hitting, and, when 

 obtained, is uneatable. — Ei>.] 



