HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



373 



VELVET DUCK. 



which the female closely covers with her elastic feather. 

 The young are attended by the female only, who 

 remains with her brood in these seclusions until they 

 are nearly ready to fly. She also makes a show of 

 defending them, and the young themselves often by 

 their great alertness in diving escape the attacks of 

 their enemies. They arc abundant in the Orkneys 

 and Hebrides, as well as in Norway, Sweden and Lap 

 land; and are common in some parts of Siberia and 

 Kamtschatka. Near Kengis, on the banks of the 

 Tornea in Lapland, a little beyond the 67th parallel, 

 Skioldebrand remarked them nesting in trees, particu 

 larly pines, accompanied by the golden eye (Fuligula 

 clanglua). The inhabitants, he also adds, knowing the 

 32 



26 



