58 
DUCK, COMMON SCAUP. 
ANAS MARILA, Lin. 
This bird arrives on our coasts towards the end 
of October, and continues to increase until the 
middle of winter. In the estuaries and along the 
flat shores, it is met with plentifully, often in 
very large flocks, and sometimes betakes itself 
to fresh water. About the end of March it leaves 
our shores. It is said to breed in Sutherlandshire, 
and has been found multiplying plentifully in Ice- 
land and Finland, among the aquatic herbage or 
large stones near the edge of fresh water. It can 
scarcely be said to construct a nest, as it merely 
covers the eggs with a quantity of down. The 
egos, from five to eight in number, are of a uniform 
clay brown colour, two inches and three-eighths in 
length and one and five-eighths in breadth. 
DUCK, COMMON SCOTER. 
Anas niara, Lin. 
During winter the Common Scoter is found in 
considerable numbers on various parts of our coasts. 
It inhabits the open sea and estuaries during the 
greater part of the year. The Scoter is found in 
the northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America ; 
also on the coasts of France and Holland. It 
