478 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



The Common Scoter, or Black Duck as it is usually known 

 to fowlers, is the commonest of our marine anatidae, and 

 is a winter visitant to the coast, where immense flocks may 

 be seen in the autumn and winter months ; it is found in 

 varying numbers at most of the coast stations between the 

 Tees and Humber, Bridlington Bay being a favourite locality. 

 In the Humber it is reported to arrive in September ; I have 

 noticed considerable numbers passing Redcar as early as 

 I7th August, and in some seasons small flocks occur in 

 September, but, as a rule, the main body does not put in an 

 appearance until mid-October, and if severe north-east 

 gales then prevail, and continue for several days, the flocks 

 become " haunted to the Scars," as the local term expresses 

 it, remaining in the vicinity during the whole winter, but in 

 mild seasons they do not appear in such large numbers, or, 

 alternatively, frequent the neighbourhood of the Teesmouth 

 or Huntcliffe Foot. In the winter of 1876 the species was 

 exceptionally abundant, and again in 1887, also in 1900 

 and 1901. It takes its departure late in spring, in April or 

 May ; I have observed considerable quantities as late as the 

 25th of the latter month, and in most years a few non-breeding 

 birds remain throughout the summer off the Cleveland coast 

 and also in the Humber. I procured a very fine drake on 

 nth August 1877, and another on the 22nd of August 

 in 1888. 



This species is occasionally found on fresh water, the 

 recorded and communicated instances of which are too 

 voluminous for particularization. It has been met with on 

 most of the large tarns, lakes, and reservoirs, and on many 

 of the rivers, particularly in the West Riding. At Mashain 

 one was obtained on 23rd August 1883, and two remained 

 on Fewston Reservoir in the summer of 1902, one being 

 captured and set at liberty again. 



A very unusual circumstance is mentioned in Allis's Report 

 of a flock appearing in July 1834, at Bretton Park, while, 

 singular to relate, in 1879 Mr. W. Eagle Clarke recorded a 

 most extraordinary migration of Scoters at Skipton-in-Craven. 

 On 24th April in the year named, shortly after dusk, birds 



