THE SCAUP DUCK. 135 



earliest date beiug the 14tli (181.0), the latest, the 29th (1838) ; 

 at the end of August in 1837 it was observed. Mr. Selby re- 

 marks that on the coast of Northumberlciud the scaup " seldom 

 arrives before the end of October, or the beginning of the 

 month following'^ (p. 355); and Sir Wm. Jardine makes a 

 similar observation,'^ probably with reference to the south of 

 Scotland. 



Scaups sometimes remain to a late period in this bay. On the 

 26th April, 1838, two were shot ; the north-east wind, which for 

 a time had prevailed, probably detained them : the two days pre- 

 vious to their being killed were bright and very fine. In 1847 

 again, a flock of between twenty and thirty appeared, on the 24th 

 of that month, about 400 yards from the quays of the town; on 

 the 9th of May, five, and on the 11th, three birds were observed 

 not far from the same place. On the 1st of May, 1849, a flock 

 of twelve, including some fine adult males, was seen. Those con- 

 tinuing here until this period would, I conceive, migrate northwards; 

 but not any remaining so late as the 7 th of June, on which day, in 

 1838, one was shot in the bay : — on being skinned, no indication 

 appeared of its having been previously wounded. Dui'ing the 

 first week of June 1840, also, a pair of these birds, in full plu- 

 mage, frequented a part of the bay near the town, and occasionally 

 visited the neighbouring fields. The male was shot, and the 

 female remained about the place for some time afterwards. 



Adult males are occasionally killed among the first of the spe- 

 cies that appear ; but the relative proportion of them seems rather 

 to increase towards spring. Scaups, though commonly associating 

 with the other diving ducks, are very rarely, except in severe wea- 

 ther, seen in company with wigeon ; but their first appearance in 

 one season at the end of September, was with that bird ; and in 

 the middle of October of another year both species fell at the 

 same discharge. I have only myself shot the scaup on its flight 

 about the margin of the sea, or when swimming within range of 

 embankments which were approached too nearly for its own 

 safety. 



* 'British Birds,' vol. iv. p. 13y. 



