ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — MELANETTA. 



96 



They seldom visit the small bays, unless driven by the storms, when they are ahso 

 sometimes seen passing over the land. During their long migrations they fly high, 

 performing in silence extended journeys from tlieir northern breeding-places. They 

 arrive off the coast of Long Island about the middle of October, and remain there 

 until abovit the middle of April. This bird, when well sujjplied witli down and in 

 full plumage, can only be brought down by a gun heavily chaiged with powder and 

 shot. When this Duck is present in large numbers on the south shore of Long 

 Island, the hunters watch for a favorable opportunity when the surf is down, and 

 form a line with fifteen or twenty 

 boats about two or three gunshots 

 apart; by adopting this method of 

 attack it becomes difficult for a 

 flock to escape entirely. The boats 

 used for this purpose are light 

 skiffs, each containing but a single 

 person, in order that the waves may 

 be ridden with safety. But this 

 nuule of shooting can be practised 

 only by experienced hunters ; for if 

 the wind rises suddenly from the 

 south, a dangerous surf is created, 

 in which even the most skilful boat- 

 men are occasionally drowned. Ac- 

 cording to Mr. Giraud, the flesh of 

 the Velvet Duck is not held in high 

 esteem, but is dark-colored and 

 fishy ; yet a large number of these 

 birds find a ready sale in the ISTew 

 York market. Richardson speaks 

 of this species as feeding princi- 

 pally in the open sea, and as having 

 strong and oily flesh. This bird 

 is said to breed on the Arctic coast, 



and to move southwardly in company with the Surf and the Long-tailed Ducks. On 

 its way it stops on the lakes of the interior so long as they remain open, and again 

 on the shores of Hudson's Bay, feeding on tender shellfish and mollusca. 



On the Pacific coast it is met with, according to the season, from Alaska to South- 

 ern California. Mr. Dall found it not uncommon on the Lower Yukon ; and he 

 obtained a female fifty miles below the fort. Shortly afterward — June 23, ISGG — 

 he secured several of the young ducklings, still in their downy coat. Mr. Bannister 

 thinks that this species occurs at St. Michael's ; but he did not identify it with cer- 

 tainty. Mr. Bischoff obtained it in great abundance at Sitka. Mr. Dall also speaks 

 of it as having been killed by him, Oct. 27, 1871, at Unalashka ; and he noticed its 

 presence there at intervals throughout the winter. It was not seen on tlie Shuma- 

 gins, though it may, and probably does, occur there. It is only a winter visitor in 

 that region. 



Mr. R. Browne found this species a winter visitor on Vancouver Island. 



Dr. Cooper informs me that on the coast of California this species is often called 

 the Black Surf Duck. It is common in winter along the entire sea-coast of California, 

 and a few superannuated individuals remain throughout the summer. It frequents 



Female. 



