72 British Diving Ducks 
Whilst easy to approach at most seasons, the male Velvet-Scoter, as soon as it 
loses the use of its wings during the eclipse period, becomes, like the male Eider, 
exceptionally wild ; and I always recollect that one of the most strenuous hunts I ever 
had after a bird was to capture the male in eclipse (figured in Velvet-Scoter plate), which 
is, I believe, the first example of a Velvet-Scoter in eclipse that has been obtained by a 
naturalist. 
Quite a large percentage of both adult and immature Velvet-Scoters do not leave 
us in the summer, but stay about their winter haunts until they are joined by the winter 
migrants in November. I had noticed this to be the case in the Orkneys, and much 
desired to kill an old male in August to see if the species obtain any kind of eclipse dress 
as other ducks do, as the fact whether they did so or not was unknown to naturalists. 
For two seasons I tried hard to obtain an old male in August, and once spent a week 
amongst the islands off Rousay and Kirkwall in pursuit of three males, which I found quite 
unapproachable. In late July my boatman, James Sutherland, wrote me that an old male 
had frequented the side of the island of Cava all the summer, and that he had passed it at 
close range only the week before. He stated that when last seen it appeared to be different 
in the plumage of the head than those observed in winter, so I went to Stromness on pur- 
pose to obtain the bird. I need not weary the reader with all the efforts and ruses we 
adopted to get within shot of the bird, so tame in July and so fearfully wild in August, 
once it had moulted its primaries. It is enough to say that on two occasions it seemed to 
comprehend the danger of our sailing-boat at a distance of half a mile, and at once com- 
menced diving in " ruffled " water, and was rapidly lost to view. Then choosing a fine day 
I towed my double-handed gunning punt ten miles to the island, and found the bird more 
amenable to attack. Although I approached within loo yards before creating alarm, the 
magnificent diving powers of the Velvet-Scoter were too much for our united efforts, and 
we had to acknowledge defeat for the day at least, which, though good, was not ideal for 
the chase, being a trifle too windy. 
On thinking the matter over carefully, I saw that our best chance of success was to 
attack the bird with a light sculling-boat, choosing a day when there was scarcely a breath 
of wind. After some trouble the boat was found, but we had to wait many days before a 
day of Italian softness was forthcoming. At last it did come in August, and with gentle 
breezes, helped by the up-flowing tide of the Bring, we reached the island of Cava at midday. 
A careful search revealed the Velvet-Scoter sitting quietly on the sea about half a mile away, 
so, leaving the sailing-boat concealed on the island, we took to our racing skiff, and at once 
commenced the attack. At 400 yards distance the bird recognised his enemies, and made 
for the open sea. James Sutherland and Tom Sinclair bent to their oars, and we made 
such good time that our quarry began diving. Each dive was above 100 yards long, the 
bird just " oiling" to the surface, showing the top of his head, and was down again in an 
instant. For a time it kept a straight line, but the speed my gallant oarsmen were getting 
from their work began to tell, and the Velvet-Scoter began the usual tricks of doubling 
under the boat. I was, however, ready for such manoeuvres, and noted carefully the direc- 
tion in which the head pointed at each dive. Two or three times the bird rose within 30 to 
50 yards of the boat, but on each occasion his rise to the air was so skilful, and his dis- 
appearance so rapid, that not the best shot in the world could have fired a shot with 
