OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 433 



with equal power ; on the land it is rather clumsy, waddling with 

 an awkward gait, but in the air it is more at home, and flies with 

 great speed. The note of this Scoter is a harsh kurr, but in the 

 pairing season the drake is said to modulate it into a more 

 musical cry, syllabled by Faber as an oft-repeated tu, that of the 

 female at this season, according to the same authority, being a 

 grating re-re-re. The food of this species consists of mollusks, 

 crustaceans, and insects, and in summer the leaves, roots, and 

 buds of weeds and aquatic plants. Its flesh is fishy in flavour 

 and unpalatable. 



Nidification. — The Common Scoter is a late breeder, even 

 in the comparatively temperate climate of Iceland not beginning 

 to lay before the middle of June, and in Arctic Russia not until the 

 end of that month or early in July. The favourite breeding grounds 

 of this Duck are the lakes on the northern tundras and the banks 

 of the rivers, at no great distance from the sea, especially in 

 locaUties where dwarf willow and birch scrub is abundant. An 

 island in the lake or river is selected where choice of such a 

 situation admits. The nest is merely a hollow, in which is placed 

 a little dry grass, sprigs of heath, withered leaves, or other such- 

 like refuse, and warmly lined with down from the body of the 

 female. The eggs are six to nine in number and pale grayish 

 buff in colour, smooth, and with little gloss. They measure on an 

 average 2-5 inches in length by i'8 inch in breadth. Down tufts 

 large, brownish gray in colour, with pale centres. Only one brood 

 is reared in the season, of which the female apparently takes the 

 entire charge. 



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

 the entire plumage bright black (adult male) ; with the axillaries 

 brown, with the under tail coverts dark brown, with the culmen 

 I '5 inch or more in length, and with no alar speculum (adult 

 female). Length, 20 to 21 inches. 



2 F 



