667 



it is found on the coast of Palestine ; but I do not find any record of its occurrence in North-east 

 Africa. Loche, however, states that it occurs in Algeria ; and, according to Favier {fide Colonel 

 Irby, I. c), it is " found in abundance near Tangier, arriving sometimes as early as August, 

 retiring northward in April." It is also stated by Mr. Godman (Nat. Hist. Az. p. 37) to frequent 

 the "Azores — eastern, central, and western groups;" and he adds that he saw a black Duck on 

 the lake at the Furnas, in St. Michael, which, he believes, belonged to this species. 



In Asia the common Scoter appears to be restricted to the northern districts, and does not 

 range far south. Von Middendorff saw what he believed to be an individual of the present 

 species on the 4th June (O. S.), on the Taimyr river, in 73f° N. lat. ; and he found a pair 

 breeding on the Boganida, the female sitting on five eggs, on the 27th June, and shot both 

 birds. It would appear that the American form of Black Scoter is found on the eastern shores 

 of Asia; for Mr. Swinhoe says that it is that species; and not (Edemia nigra, which occurs in 

 China. The American Scoter, (Edemia americana (Swains.), which replaces (Edemia nigra in the 

 Nearctic Region, differs but slightly from this species ; but still the difference appears to me to 

 be constant, and sufficient to entitle it to specific rank. In (Edemia americana the entire pro- 

 tuberance at the base of the upper mandible is orange-yellow, this colour extending a little in 

 front of the nostrils, whereas in (Edemia nigra there is a mere line from the base of the bill over 

 the centre of the protuberance yellow, and a similarly coloured patch extending from the nostrils 

 to the tooth of the bill, the protuberance itself being blackish blue. 



Although during the breeding-season this Duck is found inland, yet at other seasons of the 

 year it is essentially a marine species, frequenting the coast in vast flocks, and feeding on various 

 kinds of marine shells, which it obtains by diving. It appears to prefer sandy shores and places 

 where there are shell-banks to the portions of the coasts where the shores are muddy, doubtless 

 on account of the facility for obtaining food afforded in these former localities. I used frequently 

 to see its American ally, which differs but very slightly from our European Scoter, frequenting 

 the rock-bound coast of the Bay of Fundy, where they fed on the small shells which were to be 

 seen at low water in clusters attached to the rocks. As a rule, they were in very large flocks, 

 and were so exceedingly shy and cautious that one could rarely approach within shot; and though 

 I saw thousands, I obtained but comparatively few specimens. 



The Scoter flies well, propelling itself at considerable speed, though low ; and when it rises 

 it does so rather heavily and with a good deal of splashing. It dives very well, and remains 

 often a considerable time under water, not unfrequently rising at some distance from where it 

 plunged below the. surface. In general habits the Scoters assimilate much, and what is said of 

 one may almost be said of all the rest. The call-note of the common Scoter, like that of its 

 allies, is a harsh sound ; but during the breeding-season the male is said to utter a pleasant bell- 

 like double note resembling the syllables Skrueck-lueck ; and Faber says that when near the nest 

 the male utters a series of loud flute-like tones, resembling the syllables tu-tu-til-tii &c, which is 

 answered by the female with a harsh re-re-re-re-re. 



The nest of the common Scoter is placed on the ground ; and, like that of the Velvet Scoter, 

 it is a mere hollow scratched in the soil, either in the open or under cover of a bush, and well 

 lined with grass, moss, and down, which the female plucks off herself. Mr. Collett informs me 

 that he has generally found the nests placed on small islands, and that a pair will frequently 



