DIVING DUCKS. 223 



when courting a loud note not unlike the cooing of 

 a Pigeon, as it swims round its mate, bobbing its 

 head up and down. When moulting the male 

 resembles the female in its plumage, though there is 

 generally some admixture of black and white. At 

 that time he keeps well out to sea. White above 

 and black below, with green nape and rose-tinted 

 chest, and with whitish head with black cap, the 

 Eider is quite unlike any other of our marine Ducks. 



COMMON SCOTER.— Form, like the Velvet Scoter 

 (plate 97). 20 inches. Entirely black; bill black, 

 with a swollen knob near the base, and with yellow 

 centre to the upper mandible. Female : dark brown 

 above ; under parts paler, with light edges to the 

 feathers ; sides of face and throat dirty white. 

 Resident and winter migrant. 



Eggs. — 6-9, yellowish - white ; 2-5 x 1*8 inches 

 (plate 133). 



Nest. — Of grass and moss, with lining of the bird's 

 own down, placed among coarse growth on an island 

 in a mere or in swampy places about its border. 



Although a few Common Scoters breed in the 

 north of Scotland and immature birds remain about 

 our coasts during summer, this Duck is known prin- 

 cipally as a winter visitor in thousands to the east 

 coast of England and the north coast of Ireland, being, 

 in fact, our commonest sea Duck. It occurs regularly, 

 but is less numerous, on other parts of our coasts, and 

 is uncommon in the south of Ireland. It is essentially 



