The Velvet-Scoter 
75 
September, when the young are able to fly, the female takes them to the nearest sea- 
coast, where she stays with them until the migration commences in late October. 
The same birds and mammals frequenting the Arctic regions that prey on the foregoing 
species also attack the old and young Velvet-Scoters. Parasitic insects, such as Docophorus 
icterodes and Trinotum luriduni, are found in the feathers of these birds, and in the 
entrails (according to Von Linstow) are found : Distomum echinahtm, Strongylus nodularis, 
Strongylus acutus, Spiroptera crassicauda, Trichosoma brevicolle, Echinorhynchus poly- 
morphus, Distomum concavum, Distomum pyriforme, Distomum anatis fuscae, Monos- 
tomum attenuatum, Monostomitm flavum, Monostomum alveatum, Holostomum erraticum, 
Holostomum graciie, Tcenia microsoma, Tcsnia tenuirostris, Distomum echinatum, as well 
as Echinorynchiis filicollis. {Naturgesch. Vdgel Mitteleuropas, x. p. 257.) 
Velvet-Scoters, although usually easy to approach, are, according to my experience, 
the toughest of all sea-ducks to kill ; they require the charge of shot to be placed well 
forward to kill them, and are such expert divers that unless killed outright by the first 
shot when on the wing, they are generally lost, especially so if there is any roughness 
on the water. 
The American O. deglandi, closely allied to our Velvet-Scoter, and a species I have 
seen in large numbers on the coast of British Columbia, is said to come very readily 
to painted wooden decoys, and I have little doubt that Velvet-Scoters could be thus lured 
within shot when passing up channels. The flesh of this species has an oily and repulsive 
taste. I have eaten Eider with some relish when pressed for flesh food, but found a Velvet- 
Scoter impossible as an article of diet. 
