DIVING-DUCKS. 



219 



October, show the full white front characteristic of the adult 

 female. This they gradually lose during the autumn. In 

 November, the whole head (including the white front) is 

 spotted with black feathers, and by December the latter 

 colour predominates. Young Scaup drakes shot early in 

 January have a full black head, only the faintest traces of 

 the white then remain, but the plumage is dullish black, 

 only slightly glossed with green, and lacking the beautiful 

 glossy reflections of greens and purples which distinguish 

 the adult. The dark colour, moreover, only extends to the 

 head and upper neck, the breast-plumage being still incom- 



SCAUP YOUNG DRAKE. (NOVEMBER.) 



plete merely mottled browns and greys, very different to 

 the velvety purple-blacks and clean-cut waistcoat of maturity. 

 The fine grey mantle is also but half developed, and in this 

 stage, though the process of change appears irregular, and 

 varies in different individuals, the bulk of the young Scaup 

 drakes remain so long as we have opportunities of observing 

 them on our coast. 



The Pochard is now a very scarce bird on the N.E. coast. 

 Thirty or forty years ago, according to the records of that 

 period, and the recollection of old fowlers, it was an abun- 

 dant species, and well known to both gunners and flight- 



