OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 415 



moUusks, crustaceans, and great quantities of marine weeds 

 growing in the haunts the bird frequents. Probably in summer 

 it is more of a vegetable than an animal nature. Sometimes when 

 diving for food the Scaup will remain under the surface for quite 

 a minute. The Scaup feeds a good deal at night, and like most 

 other Ducks that habitually do so, it passes regularly from its 

 usual haunts to its feeding grounds. 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Scaup commences 

 in May in some localities where the climate is open, but a month 

 later in the colder regions of Northern Europe and Asia. It is 

 most probable that this Duck pairs for life, as all the winter it 

 may be noticed swimming in pairs, and even the large flocks are 

 made up of about equal numbers of ducks and drakes. The nest 

 is made by the waterside among willows and Junipers, or on a 

 bank where the ground is clothed with sedge tufts and various 

 species of the order Ericaceae, or bilberries, cranberries, and the 

 like. In Iceland Proctor found it among large stones near the 

 water's edge. The nest is made in a hollow in the ground of dry 

 grass, bits of sedge, and withered leaves, warmly lined with down 

 as the eggs are deposited. The usual number of eggs is eight or 

 nine ; but where several females lay in the same nest, as is some- 

 times the case. Dr. KJruper found as many as twenty-two. They 

 are pale greenish gray, and measure on an average 2*6 inches in 

 length by 17 inch in breadth. Down tufts large, dark brown in 

 colour, with pale centres. Only one brood is reared in the year, 

 the female taking all charge. 



Diagnostic Characters. — (Nuptial plumage), FuHgula, with 

 the crown and neck metallic green and purple, and the lower 

 back and scapulars white vermiculated with black (adult male) ; 

 with a white alar speculum and axillaries, and with a varying 

 amount of white vermiculations on the upper parts (adult female). 

 Length, 18 inches. 



