236 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
THE BLACK SCOTER (Anas nigra). 
The Black Scoter (Fig. 89) arrives on our shores about the middle 
of autumn in considerable flocks, and is seen on all our western 
coast during winter, but is still more abundant on the French coast. 
It closely resembles the American bird of the same name, of which 
it is probably a variety. 
It is almost as large as the common Wild Duck, but is shorter 
and more thickly made. Its plumage is entirely black ; except when 
young, when it is greyish. 
Passing its life on the surface of the water, and never venturing 
on the land except when driven by 
~ stress of weather or for the purpose 
of making its nest in the marshes, 
it flutters rather than flies over the 
surface of the sea, and makes no 
use of its wings, except to escape 
some danger, or to transport itself 
from one point to another with more 
rapidity. Its legs, in flying, hang 
down, and constantly graze the sur- 
face of the water; it always appears 
as if it regretted to leave its favourite 
Fig. 89.—Scoter. element. 
When on land, these birds walk 
slowly and ungracefully ; but in the water they are active and grace- 
ful. They are natives of both the Old and New World. About 
the month of October, driven by the north and north-west winds, 
they come down from the northerly countries of Europe, and visit 
our Atlantic coasts and the Mediterranean. 
The salt-water pools adjacent to the sea, and the sheltered creeks 
on the coast, they delight in; unfortunately too often to become the 
objects of the terribly destructive sport of which we are about to 
speak. 
Two or three times during the winter, large placards exhibited in 
certain towns of the department of Heérault announce that large 
flocks of these birds (called fow/gues in the country) having settled 
down on some adjacent lake, a day’s sport will be had with them on 
a given date. ‘This day is turned into a real féte by the sportsmen, 
and an extraordinary concourse of people are brought together. 
Some come in carriages, some in carts, and the most humble among 
them on donkeys or on foot. At daybreak they reach the margin of 
