SCOTER DUCK. 99 



The female is very little less than the male ; but differs considerably 

 in its markings. The bill is dusky, forehead and cheeks white, under 

 the eye dull brownish ; behind that a large oval spot of white ; whole 

 upper parts and neck dark brownish drab ; tips of the plumage lighter, 

 secondaries white ; wing quills deep brown ; belly brownish white ; tail 

 hoary brown ; the throat is white, marked with dusky specks ; legs and 

 feet yellow. 



Latham informs us that this species is sometimes seen on the coast 

 of England, but is not common there ; that it inhabits Denmark and 

 Russia, and in some parts of Siberia is very common. It is also 

 found at Kamtschatka, where it is said to breed, going far inland to 

 lay; the eggs are eight or ten, and white; the males depart, and leave 

 the females to remain with the young until they are able to fly. In 

 the river Ochotska they are so numerous that a party of natives, 

 consisting of fifty or more, go off in boats and drive these ducks up 

 the river before them, and when the tide ebbs fall on them at once, 

 and knock them on the head with clubs, killing such numbers that 

 each man has twenty or thirty for his share.* 



Species XVI. ANAS NIGRA. 



SCOTER DUCK. 



[Plate LXXII. Fig. 2.] 



Le Maereuse, Briss. vi., p. 420, pi. 38, fig. 2. — Buff, ix., p. 234, pi, \6.—Pl. Enl. 

 978.— Bewick, ii., p. 288.— ^rci. Zool. No. 484.-Lath. Syn. in., p. 480.t 



This Duck is but little known along our seacog,st, being more usually 

 met with in the northern than southern districts ; and only during the 

 winter. Its food is shell fish, for which it is almost perpetually diving. 

 That small bivalve so often mentioned, small muscles, spout fish, called 

 on the coast razor handles, young clams, &c., furnish it with abundant 

 fare ; and wherever these are plenty the Scoter is an occasional visitor. 

 They swim, seemingly at ease, amidst the very roughest of the surf; 

 but fly heavily along the surface, and to no great distance. They 

 rarely penetrate far up our rivers, but seem to prefer the neighborhood 

 of the ocean ; differing in this respect from the Cormorant, which often 

 makes extensive visits to the interior. 



* Hist. Kamtschatka, p. 160. 



t Anas nigra, Gmel. Syst i., p. 508, No. 7. — Ind. Orn. p. 848, No. 43. — Tbmm, 

 Man. d' Orn. p. 856. 



