VELVET DUCK AND BLACK SCOTEE. 



253 



The Velvet Duck. 



Jenyns, McGillivray 

 Diver, Double Scoter 



■writers. 

 Frekch Syhonym.— Canard M«c«mj«: Temmmck. 



The Scoters (Oidemia, Flemmmg) have the bill broad, with 

 dilated margins, and coarse lamelliform teeth; a sweUmg above 

 the nostrils, dividing them into two equal parts, both large and 



'^'xhe Velvet Duck is the largest of the Scoters, and i« dirtmguish- 

 able by the white band upon its wing, much-depressed body, thick 

 necl Ld large, oblong, and compressed head They make therr 

 :;;eL;ance il on. bays and estuaries towards the end of autumn 

 and depart about the middle of April. In the evening they fly 

 "t to sea in flocks of fifteen or twenty when tl^^ -- f'-J 

 favourable, returning to the shore in the morning. They fly low 

 ITwith ionsiderable speed, moving their ^ngs q-^ly ^ -^ 

 on arriving at a suitable place, they relax a little and abght on 

 tLr htade'r end, the body being kept oblique. On settlmg, they 

 commence forth witli to feed. 



The Black Scoter. 

 EHonlSH SYKONVM-Black Scoter ■. Sefty, Jenyns, McGilUvray. 

 L«m Sv^-ONV«s.-^»«» mjm- l^"- Latiam Temnmick. O.A».<. 

 Ti^r. rSmng, Selby, Jenyns, Bonaparte, McOilhvray. 

 The Black Scoter arrives on our shores about the middle of 

 autumn in considerable flocks, and is seen on aU our western coast 

 during winter, but is still more abundant on the French coa t^ 

 rilely resembles the American Scoter, of which it is probably 



' Tht Mack Scoter (Oidemia nyra) is almost as large as the 

 Common Wild Duck, but is shorter and more thickly made. Its 

 plumac^e is entirely black ; when young it is greyish. 



The Mack Scoter passes its life on the surface of the water, and 



