THE COMMON SCOTER. 65 



earlier writers, but is now known to nest in some parts 

 of Scotland, and in Scandinavia and Iceland it does so 

 regularly. The nest, which is a mere hollow scraped in 

 the ground, is composed of a little dried grass, a few 

 sticks or leaves, and other vegetable material, and lined 

 with a quantity of the bird's own down. The usual number 

 of eggs is six : they are of a pale buff colour, tinged with 

 green ; the length is about two inches and a half, and the 

 breadth one inch and three-quarters. The young when 

 first hatched are covered with a dark-brown down above 

 and greyer underneath. It is said that after the females 

 have laid their eggs the males associate in large flocks, 

 and slowly draw towards the coast. 



The Common Scoter is said to be a late breeder, the 

 eggs seldom being laid before June. According to some 

 authorities it does not breed until two or more years old, 

 which accounts for so many being seen upon the open sea 

 far from land both off the British Islands and in the 

 North Sea, during the ordinary breeding season. 



The call-note is something like a grating " kr, kr, kr," 

 but the drakes have a double call-note which is not 

 unmusical. 



The Scoter is found in the northern parts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and in winter vast numbers are to be 

 found on the coasts of Picardy, Holland, and many portions 

 of the Mediterranean sea-board. It is by far the com- 

 monest Duck that visits the Sussex coast in winter, 

 and sometimes hundreds can be seen together ; but they 

 are always very shy, and it is seldom a shot can be got 

 at them. 



They always live on the open sea in winter, and do 

 not come on land to feed, like some Ducks. Mr. Seebohm, 



