DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS. 207 



March, and the migration continues through the 

 whole of April into May, the bird thus being one of 

 the last Ducks to retire north in spring. Although 

 by no means unfrequently met with on inland waters 

 during migration and in winter, the Scaup Duck is, 

 for the most part, a dweller on the sea, resorting, by 

 preference, to bays, estuaries, and the mouths of 

 large rivers, especially where a considerable amount 

 of mud is left bare at low water. It is gregarious 

 at this season, often congregating into large flocks, 

 and not unfrequently associates with other Sea 

 Ducks, notably with Wigeon and Pintail. It is a 

 most expert and ready diver, spends most of its 

 time upon the water, and appears always to prefer 

 to dive, rather than to fly, in avoiding pursuit. If 

 compelled to take wing, it rises with much splashing: 

 but, when once fairly in the air, is capable of rapid 

 flight, the quickly-beating pinions making a whistling 

 or rustling sound. The food of the Scaup Duck 

 consists largely of molluscs, but crustaceans and 

 marine plants are also eaten by this species. When 

 thus diving for food, the bird often remains below 

 for a minute at a time. It feeds much at night, and 

 passes pretty regularly from its usual haunts by day 

 to its feeding-places. The note of this Duck is a 

 most harsh and discordant scaup, but during flight 

 or courtship a hoarse and grating kurr is uttered. 



The Scaup Duck arrives at its Arctic breeding- 

 grounds with the break-up of the ice. The bird 

 may probably pair for life, as the sexes keep close 



