204 THE NATCTKALIST IN NORWAY. 



under tail-feathers, dusky-brown; irides, red-brown; 

 speculum, white ; a circle of black round eaoh eye ; 

 bill, legs, and feet, black. The female is pale brown, 

 pencilled with dark brown; speculum, blue-black; the 

 feathers tipped with white. 



Steller's duck is called in Sweden the Alforr adore, or 

 betrayer of the long-tailed hareld, because it immedi- 

 ately precedes the arrival of that bird, and seems to an- 

 nounce its coming, for soon after Steller's duck appears 

 the long-tailed duck is observed in the same locality. 



The velvet scoter (Oidemia fusca) . Common during 

 the breeding-season in Lapland . It is found in the spring 

 and autumn on the Christiania-fjord, and is the last of 

 the duck tribe to leave the stormy region of the North 

 Cape. Also common on the small lakes in the western 

 fjelds of Norway. Many male birds of the species are 

 observed on the Christiania-fjord in July, having appa- 

 rently deserted the females when they have their duck- 

 lings with them. Although a bird delighting in high 

 latitudes, it is said by Nilsson not to visit either Ice- 

 land or Greenland. Called in Norway the svart-and, 

 or swarthy duck. The nest contains from eight to 

 twelve pale buff eggs of a large size. Only partially 

 migrates, and numbers remain in the south of Norway 

 throughout the winter. 



The common scoter (0. nigra). This bird breeds 

 in Lapland, and is common there. In autumn many 

 young birds of the year are observed on the Christi- 

 ania-fjord. Partially migrates ; nests under a low 

 bush by the side of a lake, and lays from eight to ten 

 very pale-yellow eggs, rather smaller in size than 

 those of the preceding species. Called in Norway the 

 sj'oorre, or sea blackcock. 



