VELVET-SCOTEE 147 



Along the western sea-board of Great Britain (including 

 Wales) it is rare. 



To Ireland it is an uncommon visitor in winter, occurring 

 chiefly on the north and east coasts, especially on those of 

 Louth and Dublin. It has also been recorded from the 

 following counties : Kerry, Cork, Wexford, Down, Antrim, 

 Donegal, and Mayo. It appears to be very rarely met with 

 on the west coast. 



Like its congeners, it is sea-faring in its habits, and is 

 usually met with some miles from land. It very rarely 

 seeks the sheltered waters of tidal estuaries and salt-water 

 channels, which, after a gale, are often thickly studded 

 with multitudes of other species of Ducks. Occasionally, 

 however, it has been discovered on inland waters. Velvet- 

 Scoters, as a rule, collect into small gatherings, and these 

 may associate with multitudes of Common Scoters. 



Food. This Duck feeds on shell-fish, captured at a con- 

 siderable depth in the water. 



Voice. The note may be described as a low, croaking 

 grunt. 



Flight. The flight is fast and well-sustained when the 

 bird is migrating, but, like its congeners, this species 

 endeavours to escape observation by diving rather than by 

 taking wing. 



Nest. The Velvet- Scoter breeds on the ground, gene- 

 rally under a bush or among scrub ; the site may be at a 

 considerable distance from water. The nest is built chiefly 

 of dry grass, weeds, bits of stem, and dead leaves, and is 

 lined with down. 



The eggs, eight to ten in number, are creamy-white. 

 Incubation does not take place until late in June. A few 

 pairs may have bred in the Northern Highlands of Scot- 

 land (Saunders), but elsewhere this Duck is unknown as a 

 nesting-species in the British Isles. 



Geographical distribution. Abroad, it breeds in 

 Northern Europe and is common in parts of Scandinavia 

 and Kussia, also in Western Siberia. In winter it migrates 

 to the seas of Europe, southward to the Mediterranean and 

 eastward to the Caspian and Black Seas. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Plumage rich velvety- 

 black, except for a noticeable white bar which runs 



