502 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
Catholic countries it is considered as fish, and is 
allowed to be eaten on fast-days. As may be sup- 
posed from the nature of its food, this bird does not 
often make its appearance on inland waters: Yarrell, 
however, says that one specimen has been taken on 
a pond in the neighbouring county of Wilts, and 
another near Farnham, in Hampshire. 
These birds are not known to breed in England, 
but repair to more northern latitudes. The nest is 
said to be made of grass and other vegetable matter 
mixed, and lined with a quantity of down from the 
bird’s own body. 
The plumage of the male Common Scoter is a 
uniform velvety black all over. The irides are dark 
brown; the beak is black, except a small space in 
the centre of the upper mandible, which is bright 
orange; the legs, toes and webs are black: as in all 
the diving Ducks, there is a sort of partial membrane 
or web to the hind toe. ‘There does not appear to 
be much difference between the young males and 
the females: all those shot by me in Devonshire 
in October and November, except the adult males, 
were nearly the same: the patch on the beak 
was much lighter; the top of the head and nape 
were dark brown; chin, cheeks, sides and front of 
the neck pale greyish brown; all the upper parts 
dark dusky brown, many of the feathers margined 
with pale grey or white, some specimens much more 
so than others; breast and flanks dull brown, many 
