114 the birds of cumberland. 



Genus (EDEMIA. 



CE. Nigra. Common Scoter. 



The Common Scoter is a winter visitant, occur- 

 ring chiefly singly, and in small parties, upon the 

 Cumbrian side of the Sol way, though more plentiful 

 on the Scotch side. To the Duddon estuary it is a 

 regular visitant, but not generally very abundant. 

 In some seasons, however, large flocks visit the 

 Duddon, probably detachments from Morecambe 

 Bay, which appears to constitute the headquarters 

 of the Common Scoter on the north-west coast of 

 England. Stragglers occur on our inland waters 

 and mosses, chiefly after heavy weather on the coast. 

 It is probable that a few Scoters, obviously non- 

 breeders, remain upon the west coast of England, as 

 upon the east coast, during the entire summer. A 

 fine old drake was caught alive in Silloth new docks 

 on August 10th, 1885, after a severe gale. Mr. 

 Clowes informed the late Dr. Gough that a few 

 Common Scoters annually visited Windermere in 

 the month of July, their stay being restricted to 

 " a day or two." (ZooL, 1848, p. 2230.) 



(E. Fusca. Velvet Scoter. 



The Velvet Scoter is a rare casual visitant to 

 the English side of the Solway, but has not been 

 obtained on any other part of the coast. 



In the spring of 1883, we had the pleasure of 

 handling in the flesh a fine adult female, which had 

 been shot on the Solway, on May 2nd. It is now 

 preserved in Mr. Mackenzie's possession. 



