Shetlands, you may be sure of finding the Eider duck, one 
of the most singular, and most beautiful members of the duck 
family. It is singular because of its coloration; the under 
parts of the body being of a velvet-black, while the upper 
parts are white, thus exactly reversing the normal distri- 
bution of these “‘ colours.’ The rosy hue which suffuses the 
forepart of the breast, and the bright green patch on the 
cheek, make up an unforgettable scheme of coloration. The 
female is very soberly clad, being of a dark brown, barred 
with black. A further and valuable identification mark is 
furnished by her beak, which, like that of her lord, seems 
unusually long, owing to the sloping forehead. The flight is 
slow and close down to the water. 
The sheld-duck is another strikingly coloured species 
that is commonly seen on sandy shores and estuaries. There 
can be no mistaking it. On the wing it has a conspicuously 
pied appearance, while the flight seems slow and rather 
laboured. Seen at rest, and fairly near, a broad chestnut 
band across the breast, and a black band down its middle, will 
be noticed, while the black head and neck are admirably 
contrasted with a coral red beak. The legs are pale pink. 
In winter, on parts of the east coast, they sometimes form 
flocks of several hundreds. The heavy-bodied, black ducks, 
one often sees scurrying along, close to the water, sometimes 
in immense flocks, are common scoters. The male is entirely 
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