232 COMMON SCOTER. 



close on them, till at a signal, a few fire on the swimming hirds, and on their taking 

 wing, a general discharge takes place; the produce is then divided among the "sportsmen!" 

 "When the birds have re-assembled, the same process is repeated, again and again. 



The Scoter is somewhat less maritime than the Velvet Scoter; being more frequently 

 found at the mouths of rivers than that species. It is seldom met with on inland waters ; 

 but Mr. Yarrell mentions one being shot in Wiltshire, more than twenty miles from the 

 sea; and T. G-., of Clitheroe, records in "Loudon's Magazine of Natural History," that 

 one was killed on the Eibble, on the 16th. of September, 1831, about forty miles from 

 the sea. It is also not unfrequent about Oxford in winter; and has also been shot on 

 Windermere. The Scoter flies heavily, and soon settles on the water again; but it dives 

 well and powerfully, almost the whole of its food being obtained at some depth under 

 water. 



The food of the Scoter consists entirely of shell-fish. The stomach of one examined 

 by Mr. T. Allis, of York, contained "a few whole middle-sized shells of Tellina soliclula; 

 a number of fragments of the same, and broken Cardium edule, or common cockle." 



The nest is said to be formed of grass or sedge, and is lined with the bird's own 

 down. 



The eggs are six in number, of a pale greenish buff colour. They measure one inch 

 and a half in length, by one inch and three-quarters in breadth. 



When incubation has commenced, the males assemble in large flocks, and keep by 

 themselves till the autumn. 



In the adult male, the bill is black; except a line of reddish yellow on the centre 

 of the upper mandible. Irides, dark hazel. The whole of the plumage is black, with 

 purple reflections on the head and neck. Legs and feet, dusky black. 



In the female, the upper parts are brownish black; the under parts lighter. Legs 

 and feet, greenish brown; membranes, nearly black. 



The length is about twenty inches. 



