212 FULIGULIN^E. 



visitant to the Bay of Drogheda, where several very beautiful 

 specimens, in the plumage of the adult, have been obtained 

 by that gentleman. 



Mr. R. Glennon y when in Achill, observed the velvet duck 

 during winter frequenting the Sound of Achill and the Gal way 

 coast, and could at all times distinguish them from the flocks 

 of common scoters by the white patch on the wings. Their 

 powers of diving were also remarked to be extremely interest- 

 ing. In one instance, where a flock of twenty birds occurred, 

 not more than eight or ten could be observed at any one time, 

 the remainder being immersed in the water searching for food. 



The velvet scoter is a bird of extreme beauty, although 

 not possessed of any varied distribution of colouring, or any 

 elegance of form ; the deep bluish-black of the plumage is 

 so soft and glossy in texture as to have obtained for it the 

 appellation of velvet, and, contrasting in an admirable manner 

 with the white patch on the wings, and a spot of the same 

 colour under each eye, renders it, from its unusual appearance, 

 a singularly handsome species. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



SPECIES 204 THE BLACK SCOTER. 



Oidemia nigra. Selby. 

 Canard macreuse. Temm. 



Black Diver. Black Duck. 



THIS species, smaller than the velvet duck, appears to be 

 more widely distributed, and the most common of the scoters 

 frequenting our eastern coast. Not so often found in loca- 

 lities similar to the preceding, we observe the black scoter 

 occasionally venturing into our bays and estuaries, and in 

 deep water off the shore line. Thus, on several occasions, 

 with the aid of a telescope, we have observed flocks of those 

 birds, averaging from five to twenty, busily occupied diving, 

 and at times resting in the most complete security, with the 

 head placed under the dorsal plumage, along the coast be- 

 tween Merrion and Kingstown, and in a similar manner at 

 Malahide and Skerries. It is also a species, during winter, 

 venturing in to seek the security of the bay, and at such times 

 may be observed floating on the water opposite Clontarf, 

 where they are well known by the appellation of " black 

 divers," and " black ducks." 



At times instances of the black scoter occurring inland 

 have come under our notice, from specimens obtained on the 

 river Liffey, and on the Shannon near Athlone. One instance 



