58 



DUCK, COMMON SCAUP. 



ANAS MAKILA, 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 

 eggs, 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 SCOTEE. 



ANAS NIGKA, 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 



