48 VELVET SCOTEE. 



1850. In Suffolk, a male bird was procured at Aldborough, 

 in January, 1848, and a female on the River Orwell a few 

 days afterwards. One also off Felixstowe, as T. J. Wilkinson, 

 Esq. has written we word. In Westmoreland, one, a male, 

 was shot on Windermere, on the 23rd. of May, 1848; a 

 female was observed about the same time. In Norfolk, they 

 are occasionally shot in hard winters, on the coast, but riot 

 exclusively so; several were procured in the very severe one 

 of 1829-30. Devonshire is also given as a locality, if indeed 

 that may be called such' where the bird is not localized, and 

 is only of chance and sparse occurrence. 



In Scotland it is not uncommon in the Frith of Forth. 

 They are common in Orkney, especially about Damsay Sound; 

 also in the Hebrides. In Shetland they are more rare. 



They have occurred likewise in Ireland near Dublin. 



These birds keep about the mouths of large rivers and 

 other waters in the neighbourhood of the coast, retiring in 

 winter to the open sea, the 'Great Highway' not only for 

 those 'who go down to the sea in ships, and occupy their 

 business in great waters,' but for all those creatures of the 

 hand of the LORD who 'take their pastime therein,' both 

 'feathered fowls' and 'things creeping innumerable.' 



These Ducks arrive in September, October, and November, 

 later or earlier according to the season, and, begin to depart 

 northwards in March. Their migration is made during the 

 night-time. 



They assemble in winter in small flocks of from three to 

 six, or larger ones of from ten or twelve to twenty, and are 

 for the most part not shy; single birds are at times seen. 

 The mother shews much anxiety about her young, if 

 approached. 



They dive with great readiness even from the first, and 

 are pre-eminent in the exercise of the art, if that indeed can 

 be called an art, proficiency in which is innate, and not 

 acquired. All animals that can swim, do so naturally, and 

 without instruction, man being the only exception to the 

 rule. On the land they are awkward in their movements, 

 and walk but badly. Their flight is somewhat heavy if 

 made only for a short distance, but when more extended is 

 performed with greater speed. 



Their food consists of mussels and other shell-fish, Crustacea, 

 worms, the fry of fish, and the buds and roots of different 

 water-plants. 



