476 



ANSERE.S. 



ANATID^. 



ANATID^. 



(Edemia fusca (Linnaeus*). 



THE VELVET SCOTER. 



Oidemia fusca. 



The Velvet Scoter is a visitor to the sea-shore of the 

 British Islands in autumn and winter, hut it is far less 

 numerous than the preceding species. Mr. Cordeaux ob- 

 served that in Lynn and Boston ' deeps,' almost every flock 

 of the Common Scoter had a pair or two of the Velvet 

 Scoter swimming with them ; and the Editor remarked the 

 same upon the Lancashire coast. The present species is 

 easily distinguished by the white patch on the wing, and, 

 when flying, the male is not unlike an old Black-cock. On 



* Anas fusca, Linn.TUs, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 196 (1766). 



