﻿VELVET SCOTER. 123 



most ducks, and arrives rarely before the month of November, 

 in our latitudes. While the shores are free from ice the 

 flocks remain in about the same localities as the Black Scoter, 

 and about the mouths of large rivers, after which it retires 

 to the open sea, where it passes the winter in the company 

 of other ducks. In the month of March the spring mi- 

 gration takes place, which is always performed during the 

 night. 



It is very easy to distinguish the Velvet Scoter from 

 the Black Scoter, by the white band across its closed wing ; 

 besides which, it is a plumper bird, its head is thicker, and 

 its tail shorter. 



This bird is rarely seen on land, but mostly frequents 

 the water, for which reason it walks at all times very in- 

 differently, and treads on its own toes for want of prac- 

 tice. 



In the arts of swimming and diving there is no cluck 

 that exceeds it, and it is said that this bird dives for food 

 to the depth of eight fathoms. In these feats of diving 

 this species appears to descend as terrestrial birds of prey 

 do upon their victims, gathering its strength, as it were, 

 in the air, so that the force with which it descends through 

 the air enables it to penetrate to so considerable a depth 

 in the denser and more resisting element. 



The flight of the Velvet Scoter is rather heavy when 

 the bird only makes short excursions over the surface of 

 the water, but when it is fairly on the wing for a lengthened 

 journey, it proceeds with tolerable speed. 



The Velvet Scoter is not by far so shy as the Black 

 Scoter, and, under ordinary circumstances, it only swims to 

 a couple of hundred yards from an approaching danger: 

 when on a pond or small piece of water, it is easily ap- 

 proached in a boat and shot. 



