48 VELVET SCOTER. 
1850. In Suffolk, a male bird was procured at Aldborough, 
in January, 1848, and a female on the River Orwell a few 
days afterwards. One also off Felixstowe, as T. J. Wilkinson, 
Esq. has written we word. In Westmoreland, one, a maie, 
was shot on Windermere, on the 23rd. of May, 1848; a 
female was observed about the same time. In Norfolk, they 
are occasionally shot in hard winters, on the coast, but not 
exclusively so; several were procured in the very severe one 
of 1829-30. Devonshire is also given, as a locality, if indeed 
that may be called such’ where the bird is not localized, and 
is only of chance and sparse occurrence. 
In Scotland it is not uncommon in the Frith of Forth. 
They are common in Orkney,, especially about Damsay Sound; 
also in the Hebrides. In Shetland they are more rare. 
They have occurred likewise in Jreland—near Dublin. 
These birds keep about the mouths of large rivers and 
other waters in the neighbourhood of the coast, retiring in 
winter to the open sea, the ‘Great Highway’ not only for 
those ‘who go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their 
business in great waters,’ but for all those creatures of the 
hand of the Lorp who ‘take their pastime therein,’ both 
‘feathered fowls’ and ‘things creeping innumerable.’ 
These Ducks arrive in September, October, and November, 
later or earlier according to the season, and begin to depart 
northwards in March. ‘Their migration is made during the 
night-time. 
They assemble in winter in small flocks of from three to 
six, or larger ones of from ten or twelve to twenty, and are 
for the most part not shy; single birds are at times seen. 
The mother shews much anxiety about her young, if 
approached. 
They dive with great readiness even from the first, and 
are pre-eminent in the exercise of the art, if that indeed can 
be called an art, proficiency in which ea innate, and not 
acquired. All animals that can swim, do so naturally, and 
without instruction, man being the only exception to the 
rule. On the land they are awkward in their movements, 
and walk but badly. Their flight is somewhat heavy if 
made only for a short distance, but when more extended is 
performed with greater speed. 
Their food consists of mussels and other shell-fish, crustacea, 
worms, the fry of fish, and the buds and roots of different 
water-plants. 
