tss British Birds, with their Nests and Eggs. 



slightly smaller bird, tlie feathers on the forehead extending much more over the 

 bill, making it appear shorter, and there is no black line across the central portion 

 of the mandible, extending from the nostrils to the nail. The differences are 

 slight but permanent. 



When feeding, Velvet-Ducks keep near the same spot, and when drifting with 

 the tide bej'ond their ground, rise and fly back, and again recommence. On the 

 wing the adult male very much resembles an old Black Grouse. Their food appears 

 to be exclusively shell-fish, and they are probably not quick enough to catch fish, 

 they remain immersed from one to three minutes. The shell-fish on which it 

 feeds are torn from the bottom and swallowed entire, and subsequently broken into 

 fragments in the strong muscular stomach. I have been astonished to see the 

 small size of the fragments, so that it is not easy to decide what they are, perhaps 

 the breaking up process is assisted by some strong solvent, of the power of which 

 we have little knowledge. Macgillivray says they live mainly on bivalve moUusca, 

 of the genera Madra, Tellina, Solen, Mytilus, Cardium, in some cases he has found 

 the gizzard filled with Donax trunculus exclusively. Mr. Gray has taken 

 quantities of a species of Donax, with a very strong shell, which had been broken 

 into fragments. The contents of the stomach, he says, are so much bruised, that 

 it is not easy to make out the species which it prefers, and only the thicker-shelled 

 moUusca are distinguishable, and even these are smashed 'into small pieces. We 

 must examine the gizzard of a shell- eating Duck if we wish to realize the power 

 of the strong lateral muscles, and the strength of the two grinding plates of the 

 gizzard in reducing thick-shelled moUusca to little better than a pulp, and this 

 without injury to the organ itself. 



As might naturally be supposed from the nature of its food, the flesh of this 

 Duck is coarse, rank, and fishy. Mr. Gray says, some people think fresh earth 

 will remove the strongest flavour natural to a fish-eating bird, and recommends 

 anyone desirous of trying a Scoter to bury it, and leave it there. 



Everything, as I have before said, depends on the nature of the food, and 

 even a Scoter might be made palatable if fed on proper diet. Mr. Gatke says, 

 (" Birds of Heligoland "), that on one occasion a ship stranded and went to pieces 

 on the long southern extremity of the dune. The cargo, which consisted of small 

 grey horse beans, was carried by the current along the sea bottom far out to the 

 east. The Ducks, (chiefly Scoters), came by thousands and remained on the spot 

 where, at the depth of about ten fathoms, this rich food was spread. All the birds 

 obtained from this quarter were literally enveloped in fat which, unlike its normal 

 condition, was very white and palatable. The birds had not a trace of the fishy 

 taste peculiar to these Ducks, and specially pronounced in old males. 



