SCAUP-DUCK. 273 



speculum is white, but of less extent than in the 

 male. The greater part of the breast and abdo- 

 men is white; the sides and parts under the tail 

 umber-brown. 



Length, 16^- inches ; extent of wings, 28 ; weight, 

 1 pound 6 ounces. 



The males vary greatly in size, but in adult 

 specimens there is little difference in coloring. 



Blue-bill shooting, when they are to be found 

 in abundance, as is frequently the case in spring, 

 is one of the prettiest of sports ; they come in to 

 the decoys so readily, so often, and are off again 

 with such amazing velocity, unless well held on, 

 that the sportsman cannot fail of being pleased. 

 Their flight, though rapid, is very steady, seldom 

 high in air, excepting in long journeys over land, 

 which they, avoid as much as possible, and when 

 in flocks frequently packed closely together, much 

 in the manner of red-heads, thus affording excel- 

 lent opportunities for killing several at a dis- 

 charge. They die hard, and struggle to escape 

 to the last, frequently, when shot in the air, diving 

 the instant they strike the water, and coming up 

 to its surface dead. When wing-broken, they 

 ewim under water to long distances, coming to 

 the surface only for an instant to regain their 



