358 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



hundreds of Common and Velvet Scoters ; so watchful, how- 

 ever, were the whole community, that it was impossible to 

 approach within range." A' correspondent of the 'Field/ 

 February 5th, 1887, states that he had seen a male Long- 

 tailed Duck, which had been shot at Rye. Mr. Jeffery (p. n.) 

 records that a male and female were shot at Sidlesham, in 

 November 1860, and an immature specimen at the same 

 place, November 1868. In the ' Zoologist,' Mr. Button 

 mentions that a fine female was killed by a farmer, with a 

 stone, while swimming in a small pond near Polegate, in 

 January 1864 (p. 9046) ; and at p. 2059, s.s., Mr. Jeffery 

 records an immature specimen, taken near Chichester, 

 November 35th, 1870, and another from Sidlesham, 

 December 1878. 



EIDER DUCK. 



Somateria mollissima. 



This species is met with in small numbers, and is rarely 

 found at any great distance from the sea. It is a regular 

 autumn and winter visitor to the Channel, off our coast, 

 generally in small flocks, feeding on the shallows, in company 

 with other species of diving Ducks, on small mussels and 

 other bivalves, crabs, and shrimps. According to Mr. Booth, 

 it also swallows sea- weed, grit, and small stones, to assist 

 digestion. Selby ('British Ornithology,' vol. ii. p. 339), 

 speaking of the nest in the Fame Islands, states that it is com- 

 posed of dried grasses, mixed with a quantity of the smaller 

 algEe, and, as incubation proceeds, a lining of down plucked 

 by the bird from her own body is added. In Yarrell (B .B. vol. 

 iv. p. 459) it is stated that, although the nest is usually at no 

 great distance from the water, it has occasionally been found a 

 mile or two inland, and also at a considerable elevation. 



