BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 169 



217. SOMATERIA STELLERI (Pallas) . Steller's 

 Western Duck. 



A specimen of this very rare Arctic Duck, a male, 

 assuming the winter plumage, was shot at Filey, 

 Yorkshire, on the ]5th of August, 1845*. 



218. (EDEMIA FUSCA (Linnaeus) . Velvet Scoter. 



Provincial. Black Duck. 



I have met with the Velvet Scoter at sea off the 

 Yorkshire coast and Flamborough Head in the 

 autumn. It is, however, much less common than 

 its congener the Common Scoter, keeping far out at 

 sea even in the roughest weather; is rarely found 

 within the Humbert- 



219. (EDEMIA NIGRA (Linnaeus). Common Scoter. 

 Provincial. Black Duck, Mussel Duck. 



Immense migratory flocks of these Ducks visit us 

 in the autumn and winter, and at these seasons may 

 be found along the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire sea- 

 boards as well as within the H umber. In very severe 

 winters they occasionally visit our inland ponds and 

 waters. They remain off the coast throughout the 



* Zoologist for 1846, p. 1249. 



t Mr. St. John (Nat. Hist, and Sport in Moray, p. 270) 

 says, u The Velvet Duck never approaches very near the shore 

 in this county, but seems to live wholly on the water, where it 

 floats high, and appears to pay little regard to wind and waves, 

 swimming at its ease in the roughest water." 



1 



