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VELVET SCOTEE. 



VELVET DUCK. DOUBLE SCOTER. GREAT BLACK DUCK. 



Oidemia fusca, . . . Fleming-. 



Anas fusca, .... Leht-kits. 



Canard double macreuse, . . TEinnscK. 



Oidemia. Oidema — A swelling; as if referring to the inflated base of the bill. 

 Fusca — A dark colour — brown. 



The Velvet Scoter is met with only during the dreary months of winter, in the 

 British Islands. In England it is decidedly rare; we have met with records of its 

 occurrence in but few of the counties. One or two have been procured in Oxfordshire 

 and Berkshire; in Cornwall, we are informed by W. P. Cocks, Esq., that it is but 

 rarely obtained ; in Devon is has also occurred occasionally. A few have been met with 

 in Susses, Norfolk, and Suffolk; in Northumberland it is not uncommon; and a pair 

 have been noticed upon Windermere, in Westmoreland. 



In Scotland it is by no means uncommon all round the coasts; and is also frequent 

 in Orkney and Shetland. 



In Ireland it occurs occasionally. Mr. Thompson has recorded instances of its occurrence 

 near Drogheda, Dublin, Wexford, and Yougkal. 



Out of these islands, the Velvet Scoter is found in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, 

 Siberia, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands; and as far to the south as Italy. It is also 

 frequent on various parts of the north-eastern coasts of North America and Asia. Of 

 the latter locality, Wilson, quoting from the "History of Kamtschatka," says "In the 

 Biver 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." 



The flesh of the Velvet Scoter is rank and strong-tasted, and it is consequently in 

 but little esteem among civilized people; though the above extract would seem to show 

 that it is by no means despised by the inhabitants of Kamtschatka. 



