THE SCOTER. 205 



Descriptions. 



Latham , " and will carry them from place to 

 place in their bills." They also show much in- 

 stinctive cunning in preserving them when at- 

 tempted to be caught; for they will fly along the 

 ground as if wounded, till the brood are got into 

 a place of security. Their great beauty has in- 

 duced many unsuccessful attempts to domesticate 

 them ; but they never thrive unless in the neigh- 

 bourhood of salt water. The eggs are thought 

 good, but the flesh of this bird is rank and un- 

 savory. 



THE KING DUCK, OR GREY- 

 HE JDED DUCK, 



A VERY beautiful species, is found at Hud- 

 son's Bay ; it is also common in Siberia, and in 

 Greenland, where the flesh is accounted excel- 

 lent ; and of the skins sewed together, the natives 

 make very comfortable garments ; nor is its down 

 le^ss comfortable than that of the eider. 



THE SCOTER, OR NIGR4. 



THE male of this species is totally black, the 

 female brownish ; the tail resembles a wedge ; in 

 the winter season they are found on the coasts of 

 Great Britain; but are \ery numerous on the 

 shores of France from November to March, 

 where they feed upon a glossy bivalve shell, called 



