346 ANATIDJ:. 



In spring, the Scaup Ducks depart to countries north of 

 the Orkney and Shetland Islands to breed ; and I am only 

 acquainted with one record of their producing their young 

 in Scotland, which is that by Mr. Selby, in his notice of 

 the birds found when exploring Sutherlandshire in the 

 month of June, 1834. "A single female was shot by Sir 

 "William Jardine, in a small loch between Loch Hope and 

 Eriboll ; she was attended by a young one, which unfortu- 

 nately escaped among the reeds. This is the first instance 

 of its breeding in Britain having been ascertained, that I am 

 aware of." 



Of this species in Scandinavia, Richard Dann, Esq. has 

 supplied me with the following note : " The Scaup Duck, 

 in its migration south, does not make its appearance on the 

 western coast of Europe until late in the winter, and then 

 only in comparatively small numbers ; its migration appears 

 to be more southerly than westerly. It breeds on the 

 swampy lakes towards the north of the Bothnian Gulf, 

 near Lulea, in considerable numbers. I have shot the 

 young there previously to their being able to fly. I have 

 seen them about Gellivara and Lulea in small numbers. 

 Being a diving-duck they avoid the reeds, and keep out 

 in the open water. They are, also, tolerably numerous 

 in the Dofre Fiel mountains, frequenting and breeding 

 near swampy solitary lakes as high as the birch-wood 

 grows. At whatever season the Scaup Duck is shot, it is 

 generally very fat and heavy. The eggs are five or six in 

 number." 



Mr. Proctor sent me word that the Scaup Duck is a 

 very common species in Iceland, where it breeds either 

 among the aquatic herbage, or the large stones, near the 

 edge of fresh water, making little or no nest, but a quantity 

 of down covering the eggs, which are from five to eight in 

 number : an egg brought from Iceland by Mr. Proctor, and 



