COMMON SCOTER. 1638 
COMMON SCOTER. 
(CHipEMIA NIGRA, Linn. 
Geogr. distr.—Throughout the northern portions of Europe and 
Asia, ranging southwards during the winter, when it is widely dis- 
tributed in Great Britain: it is said to breed in several parts of 
Scotland, such as the moors in Caithness and Inverness.” 
Food.—Alge, insects, Crustacea, Mollusca, worms. 
Nest.—A mere depression or hollow scratched in the ground, and 
lined with moss, grass, and down. 
Position of nest.—Usually on small islands in open swampy ground 
or under the shelter of a bush. 
Number of eggs.—8-9. 
Time of nidification.—V1 ; middle of the month. 
Mr. Cecil Smith, in his ‘Birds of Somersetshire,’ states 
that the Scoter is a very expert diver, and will remain 
under water for a long time. These birds are not known 
to breed in England, but repair to more northern latitudes 
for that purpose. (See pp. 501, 502.) 
Mr. Harting says that this species has but little claim 
to be protected by the Wild Fowl Preservation Act, 
“although there is some little evidence on record of its 
occasionally breeding in the British Islands. Mr. A. G. 
More, writing of this species in the ‘Ibis’ for 1865 (p. 445), 
says :—‘ Mr. W. Dunbar tells me that the Black Scoter 
breeds every year in many parts of the moors of Caithness, 
making its nest in the boggy swamps around the lakes. 
He has known the eggs taken more than once. Mr. R. J. 
Shearer writes that a “black duck” is well known as 
breeding on one or two lakes in the Thurso district.’ In 
reply to my suggestion that the bird referred to by Mr. 
Shearer might be the Tufted Duck, Mr. More wrote me that, 
since penning his former remarks, the nest, with young 
and eggs, had also been taken, and old birds killed at the 
same time. This, of course, places the identity of the 
species beyond doubt. Mr. More added that in 1871 Small, 
the bird-stuffer in Edinburgh, showed him some very young 
Scoters which had been obtained, with the old birds, in 
Caithness.” 
*T quote Dresser’s ‘Birds of Europe’ as authority; Hewitson (in 
his ‘ Illustrations’) was evidently unaware of the fact: the egg, as 
figured by him, is similar to my figure of the Garganey. 
