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, hke 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, wiU 

 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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