94 the ornithologist's guide 



Scoter. — This species is rare in Shetland, but 

 is very common in Orkney, where it arrives in 

 the beginning of winter and retires again very 

 early in the spring. It frequents the sounds in 

 flocks of ten or twelve, generally feeding in the 

 middle or deep water and in the stream of the tide. 

 It is remarkably shy, and great caution is required 

 in approaching it. 



Somateria mollissima, Leach. Dunter. Eider 

 Duck. — This wild but valuable species is rather 

 plentiful amongst these islands in the winter : a 

 few pairs remain during the summer and breed, 

 choosing for that purpose the most unfrequented 

 and exposed situations, such as the small islands and 

 rocks ; the nest is formed of seaweed and grass, and 

 lined to a great thickness with fine soft elastic down 

 from their breasts, and is placed in the most shel- 

 tered spot the bleak and solitary place will afford. 

 These birds, particularly the males, vary very much 

 in plumage at different seasons of the year. That 

 part which in the winter is pure white, in the 

 summer becomes mottled with black, in some 

 birds much more so than in others. During the 

 breeding-season they are very shy, but on the 

 contrary it is reported that in the winter they are 

 the most familiar of the duck tribe. 



