164 THE VELVET SCOTER. 



and is a winter visitant on our coasts. Mr. Yarrell 

 states that it is not a common species on the 

 southern coasts, and enumerates the counties off 

 which it has been killed, which are few m num- 

 ber : 1832 and 1837, are mentioned as winters 

 in which it had been obtained in the London 

 markets, showing that its occurrence to the poul- 

 trymen there must be precarious. It increases 

 northward ; we have received specimens from the 

 vicinity of Orkney, where we have been informed 

 that it is abundant, while in the Firth of Forth it is 

 by no means uncommon. In the latter it occurs in 

 small parties, and some may almost always, during 

 winter, be seen either riding leisurely at their ease, 

 or diving actively. In a boat we have frequently 

 come up with them, and did not perceive that ex- 

 treme shyness which is attributed to them by many 

 describers. With a slight breeze and sailing as if to 

 pass the flock, keeping at the same time as free from 

 motion as possible, we have not found difficulty 

 in getting within shot, the birds not taking wing 

 until approached within forty yards, and then giving 

 abundance of time to the sportsman, from rising 

 heavily until clear of the water. From being in little 

 esteem for the table, they are not frequently seen in 

 the Edinburgh markets, at the same time many spe- 

 cimens may be obtained by attention during winter. 

 The food is principally bivalve molusca, frequently 

 those of a very hard structure ; the strong covering 

 of which their very powerful gizzard enables them 

 easily to bruise and triturate. 



