The Scoter dives with tht grea^ft dexterity, and is ge* 
fierally met with on the fea at a confiderable diftance from' 
fhore, to which it retires only during the breeding feafon, they 
are at that time found in confiderable numbers off the coaft of 
France, where they are fold to the Catholics, who eat them 
or^ faft-days a^nd in Lent;'' they are are often taken in-' th^ 
fifhermen*s nets while diving in queft of food, which chiefly 
confifls of fmall fhell-fifli ; in the gizzard of the one our 
figure was coloured from, we found a quantity of fhells re- 
duced to pieces, alfo fome fmall pieces of glafs ; the flefh was 
Fiard, dry, and coarfe, but entirely devoid of any fiffiy or 
xinpleafant tafie. 
Of the habits of this fpecies, we have but little know- 
ledge, as it is of a very fhy difpofition, and inftantly dives' 
sit the approach of danger and reappears at a very confiderable 
diftance ; its flight heavy and flow ; the pofition of its 
legs (placed fo far behind) mtid occafion it to walk awk- 
wardly ; we have juft learnt th^t this bird fometimes breeds 
in the Calf of Man, near the coafl: of Scotland ; of this 
we hope fhortly to be able to give further information. 
The male of this fpecies is not furniflied with a labyrinths 
