The Velvet-Scoter 
69 
O. Reiser, however, considers the occurrence of both species of Scoter in Greece as doubtful 
(Ornis Balcanica, iii. p. 583). In the Dobrogea (Roumania), it is a regular passage migrant 
(R. V. Dombrowski), and also visits the Black Sea (von Nordmann) in small numbers. 
Inland in Europe it visits the lakes of Switzerland (Fatio and Studer, Ois. de la 
Suisse, p. 1392) and N. Italy (Lugano, &c.) on passage to the Mediterranean ; also recorded 
from Bohemia (Fritsch, /. /. O., 1872, p. 372); and Hungary (Madarasz, Magyarors. 
Madarai, p. 574) ; and Austria (von Pelzeln) ; Transylvania (Danford and Harvie Brown, 
Ibis, 1875, p. 428), as well as S. Germany, &c, 
Africa. — Morocco (C. A. Payton, Field, February 23, 1878). 
Algeria. — (Loche, Cat. des M. et Ois. Algerie, p. 143). 
Egypt. — (Brehm., /. / O., 1854, p. 84; Shelley, B. of Egypt, p. 292; von Heuglin, 
Orn, N. Ost. Afrikas, p. 67). Possibly the records of Scoters seen on Cyprus, but of 
which no specimens have as yet been secured, may refer to this species. 
Asia. — Caspian Sea(/./ O., 1910, p. 72. Cf. also Pallas and Radde, Orn. Caucas., 
p. 459; Seebohm, Ibis, 1882, p. 229; 1883, p. 189). 
N. Persia. — De Filippi (cf Blanford, East. Persia, ii. p. 302). 
Turkestan. — (Dresser). [Records from China and Japan probably refer to eastern race.] 
America. — Greenland, one in 1878 (H. Winge, Grdnland's Fugle, p. 92). 
Habits. — The Velvet-Scoter is the largest of the three species of Scoter found in 
the British Isles, and is easily distinguished on the wing by the large amount of white 
on the secondaries. Late in October or early in November Velvet-Scoters leave the regions 
of their summer home, for the most part situated in North and North-Eastern Europe, 
above the Arctic circle, and wander south to all parts of Germany, and even farther 
south. The majority, however, winter off the coasts of North Germany, Norway, Den- 
mark, and the British Isles. As a rule the southern migration in autumn is somewhat 
later than is the case with other species of diving ducks, and they are the last of the 
regular winter visitors to arrive in our northern islands. On the other hand, they are 
often the first of the true sea-ducks to leave us, and I have more than once noted their 
departure as early as the end of March. Naumann expresses an opinion as to the habitat 
of this species which seems to differ somewhat from that chosen by birds which visit us. 
He speaks of their being " not so much sea-birds as many other species of duck, although 
in winter the greater majority linger only on the sea, and also at other periods of the year 
stay near islands, isthmuses, and in quiet bays, or else quite near these ; from whence they 
make their way readily to fresh water, for they usually take up their abode in summer on 
the great inland lakes at some distance from the sea, and resort to them as well as large 
ponds and rivers at both times of passage" (Vogel Mitteleuropas, x. p. 255). 
In our islands the Velvet-Scoter is strictly a sea-duck, is only very rarely killed 
on fresh water, and then only on migration. As a rule these birds frequent the neigh- 
bourhood of mussel-banks at some distance off-shore, apparently caring little whether 
these situations are exposed or protected, for they come with the utmost regularity to 
the same places year after year. Most of the places known to me in Scotland and the 
islands where these birds spend the winter months, are more or less protected by outlying 
islands or headlands, but in some cases, such as St. Andrews Bay and the Tay estuary, 
their feeding grounds are usually exposed to north and easterly winds. They seem to 
