340 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



and to come away from her snug nest 

 among the bilberries on the adjacent 

 bank-side and join him on the lake, or 

 perhaps have a swing down the river to 

 the delta to pick up anything that may be 

 left on the strand at low tide. Of all the 

 cries of the Ducks that have come under 

 my notice, I think that of the Scaup is 

 the most discordant. None of them are 

 very musical, perhaps ; but if you imagine 

 a man with an exceptionally harsh, hoarse 

 voice screaming out the word scaup at the 

 top of his voice, some idea of the note 

 of this Duck 'may be formed. It is said 

 that when this harsh note is uttered, the 

 opening of the bill is accompanied with a 

 peculiar toss of the head. The ordinary 

 alarm-note during flight is a grating sound 

 like that made by the Tufted Duck. 



"The Scaup is a very gregarious and 

 sociable bird. In winter it is almost 

 always seen in flocks, frequently associated 

 with other Ducks, and in summer small 

 parties are constantly seen coming to and 

 going from their feeding-grounds. When 

 alarmed they generally seek safety by 

 diving, but if they find themselves obliged 

 to take wing they get up from the water, 

 one after another, with a great splash; 

 but once fairly launched in the air, they 



