The Surf-Scoter 
8i 
ward. Velvet, Common, and especially Surf-Scoters were the most numerous ; but there were also many- 
Eiders, Brent Geese, Long-tailed Ducks, with a few Harlequins, Great Northern Divers, and some others. 
The Surf-Scoters flew in large compact flocks, from eight to ten deep. I estimated the length of the 
flocks by watching them as they passed certain points, the distance between which was known to me ; 
and I found that one compact flock was at least half a mile in length, a second reaching from one point 
to another distant nearly a mile and a quarter. I made several telling shots amongst them, knocking 
over eight at one discharge, and six and four at a double shot, though I was only using a light 
1 5-bore gun. I found them, however, very hard to recover ; for during the time the dog was retrieving 
them, one or two were sure to come to and paddle off, and the sea was too rough to go out in a boat to 
pick up the cripples. The males proved to be far more numerous than the females, of which sex I only 
killed three during the whole day." 
The flight of the Surf-Scoter is rapid, and usually performed at a low elevation over 
the water, as is the case with the Velvet-Scoter. Its general habits seem to resemble 
that species very closely. On the British Columbian coasts I observed many specimens 
(principally males and probably non-breeding birds of 22 to 24 months) flying about singly 
on the same places as O. deglandi. 
My friend, Mr. G. E. Francklyn, who has killed many of these birds both on the 
east and the west coast of North America, where he is now a professional wild fowler, 
has told me that these birds made a distinct whistling noise both when commencing 
flight and on alighting, though during the flight itself it is not noticeable. He compares 
this sound to that produced by the Golden-Eye, but not so loud. On approaching a 
flock which rose in front of my boat in fairly quiet weather, I distinctly heard this 
whistling sound as the birds rose during their "run-up," and there is no doubt that in a 
dead calm the noise is very noticeable. 
Turner, in speaking of the Surf-Scoter {Contributions to the Nat. Hist, of Alaska, 
pp. 137-8), which he noticed in the Yukon district, bordering on the sea and to the 
northward, says : 
" It is common among the Aleutian Islands. It frequents the larger coves and bays, where in 
favoured situations the bird is abundant in winter. 
" It is rather shy, but when single or in pairs it may be approached to within long range- The 
favourite way to obtain this duck is to wait until it dives, then to go to where it will come up. It is then 
so confused that ample time is given to obtain a shot at shorter range. When wounded, this duck will 
dive and swim for two or three hundred yards. I have wounded them and waited for twenty minutes to 
have them reappear. They often sink to the bottom, as they die under water, and there is not sufficient 
air in their lungs to float them [?]. If not this, there is always some big fish that accompanies the hunter 
and takes the bird only after it has died under the water. 
" Unless the bird is killed outright there is but little chance to obtain it. 
" They have a peculiar habit of stretching up their necks as though they had some throat disease, 
like the ' gapes ' in the young chickens. The flesh of this duck is very nice, and if well prepared is ex- 
cellent food, being free from any strong odours. Its food is obtained from the bottom of the bays and 
coves, and consists almost entirely of shell-fish and worms that are found among the rocks. 
"The Surf-Duck is the Svestun, or Whistler, of the Russians." 
Both on the east and on the west coasts of America numbers of Surf-Scoters remain 
throughout the summer, and these are not necessarily wounded birds, but are for the 
most part immature males and a few females, whilst a few adult males also do not ga 
northward. 
VOL. II, L 
