153 



VELVET SCOTEE. 



(EDEMIA FUSCA (Linn.). 



Anas fusca, Linn. S. N. i. p. 196 (1766) ; Naum. xii. p. 123. 

 Oidemia fusca, Macg. v. p. 134; Hewitson, ii. p. 419. 

 CEdemia fusca, Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 476; Dresser, vi. p. 657. 



Grande-Macreuse, French ; Sammet- Ente, German ; Pato 

 negro real, Spanish. 



This fine Duck is an autumnal visitor to our coasts 

 and occasionally wanders to considerable distances 

 inland from its accustomed maritime haunts. My 

 personal acquaintance with the Velvet Scoter is very 

 scanty ; I observed small flocks of this species during 

 very severe weather taking their pleasure off the northern 

 shore of the Firth of Forth, generally well out of gunshot 

 range from the land, but by chance, for I never was 

 skilful with a rifle, I managed to put a buUet through 

 the neck of a very fine old male, and had the good 

 fortune to secure my prize out of a rough tumble of 

 sea. A few Velvet Scoters haunted the harbour of 

 Santander during November and December 1879, and 

 I obtained two or three. I very much regret that 

 through an error of mine in the Latin designation of 



