384 IslACHAy, Hiibits of t/ie Scoters. [J"ly 



to catch them with a charge of shot (kirhig such a headlong, zig- 

 zao- rush. I explain this action on their part by the supposition 

 that at first they mistake the sound tor the nt)ise of a hawk's wings 

 and seek the water for safety. 1 have seen the same result pro- 

 duced by a rifle ball passing through or near a flock flying high 

 in the air. Either of the Scoters, when at considerable distance, 

 can be attracted towards the decoys by shaking a jacket or hat at 

 intervals, which, when their attention has been secured, should be 

 stopped ; for once their eyes have become fixed on the decoys, 

 they will usually come to them, if flying low down near to the 

 water. 



My experience show^s that all the Scoters are unusually silent, 

 and seem to depend entirely on their sight, in discovering their 

 companions. The American Scoter makes a musical whistle of 

 one prolonged note, and it can frequently be called to the decoys 

 by imitating the note. I have rarely heard the Surf Scoter make 

 any sound, and then only a low gutteral croak, like the clucking 

 of a hen ; they are said to utter also a low whistle. The White- 

 winged Scoter, so far as I know, is perfectly silent, although I 

 have heard that they make a low quack, like the note of the Blue- 

 winged Teal ; yet they can be called to the decoys in the spring 

 by making a loud purring sound, like the call of the Brant. 



In the spring mating begins before the northward migration 

 commences, as I have taken eggs from females, between the 15th 

 and 35th of April, which varied in size from a cherry stone to a 

 robin's egg. During this period the duck when flying is always 

 closely followed by the drake, and wherever she goes, he follows ; 

 if she is shot, he continues to return to the spot until also killed. 

 I have often on firing at a flock shot out a female ; the moment 

 she commences to fall, she is followed by her mate ; he remains 

 with her, or flies oft' a short distance only to return again and 

 again until killed, regardless of previous shots fired at him. I 

 have never seen any such devotion on the part of the female ; she 

 always uses the utmost speed in flying away from the spot, and 

 never returns to it. 



In regard to the abundance of each kind of Scoter, it is diffi- 

 cult to judge, but I lean to the opinion that the Surf Scoter is 

 the most numerous; next, the White-winged, and lastly the 

 American. I think there is little diflerence as to the numbers 

 now, and formerly ; but during the southern migration, unless it 



