2o6 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



insects. On the i6th of September, 1867, I saw a 

 young bird of the year, in poor condition, which had 

 just been" shot at the Nore, and which was of an almost 

 uniform brown colour, without any appearance of 

 white feathers. 



Velvet Scoter {Oidemia fused). The Velvet 

 Scoter, or Black Duck, seldom ventures far inland, 

 and is only a winter visitant to our sea-coast. 



A single individual was procured near Wargrave, 

 in Berkshire, in January, 1795, as is recorded by the 

 Rev. F. O. Morris in his ' British Birds.' Mr. Gould, 

 in his beautifully-coloured work,* says : ' During the 

 severe winter of \%66-6'j, a splendid old male was 

 killed at Cookham, in Berkshire ; and many other 

 instances of its occurrence inland might be cited.' 

 Of this specimen I also received a notice from Mr. 

 Sharpe. The Rev. H. Harpur Crewe tells me that he 

 has on two occasions observed the Velvet Scoter on 

 the large reservoirs near Drayton Beauchamp in cold 

 weather. Mr. Morris, in his ' Game Birds and Wild 

 Fowl,' states that this species has been taken in the 

 county of Berkshire, but he unfortunately gives no 

 dates : possibly this may refer to the one which was 

 taken near Wargrave. 



Harlequin Duck (FuUgula histriomca). This 

 rare species has acquired the sobriquet of Harlequin 

 from the rich and variegated colours of its plumage. 



* * Birds of Great Britain.' 



