SCOT E R. 
VELVET 
(EDEMIA FUSCA. 
Large numbers of these fine birds are to be met with on the saltwater firths off the shores of Ross and 
Cromarty and the adjoining counties, as well as round other portions of the northern coast-line. On the 
Firth of Forth a few were now and then seen in Gullane Bay, and also off the Tyne sands near 
Dunbar, during the winters I passed in the locality. Off all suitable parts of the cast coast these birds 
put in an appearance in larger or smaller numbers in autumn, remaining occasionally till the end of 
April or beginning of May. So far south as the Channel they commonly make their way by the first 
or second week in October, small parties regularly taking up their quarters by that date over the mussel- 
banks off Shoreham, Laneing, and "Worthing *. These banks appear most attractive feeding-grounds for all 
the diving-ducks, immense flocks of Scoters of both species, together with a few Eider and Long-tail Ducks, 
gathering here in severe winters. In Rye Bay and off St. Leonards and Bexhill I also repeatedly fell in 
with Velvet Scoters when shooting in that part of the Channel. If hitherto unmolested, these birds are 
usually far more confiding than the Common Scoter, offering almost invariably an easy chance for 
securing any desirable specimens; a shot or tAvo, howcA^er, puts them on their guard, when for the 
rest of the winter they Avill rise on the first signs of danger, spreading alarm to every flock of fowl in 
vicAV. Though usually only consorting Avith diving-ducks, stress of Aveathcr Avill, at times, force this 
hardy species into less congenial society : on one occasion at least tAvo hundred Velvet Scoters were 
seen in company Avith Mallard, Wigeon, Pintail, and various others of the web-footed tribe, a herd of 
Curlew, Avading in the shoal water, being also intermixed with those nearest the shore. A few lines 
extracted and abridged from my notes for 1869 will give some idea of this immense gathering. 
In the latter end of November a gale that swept os^er the north-cast coast caused a heavy sea in 
the Dornoch Firth, and during the height of the storm thousands of foAvl collected in the wash of the water 
under the shelter of the sand-banks off the “ Fendom.” Having decided to make an attempt to reach them, 
we came to the conclusion that the single punt, owing to its lightness and the ease with AAdiich it could 
be dragged ashore, even if full of water, Avould be most suitable for the purpose. Owing to the swell 
it was impossible to launch from the boat-house, so having procured the assistance of tAvo or three extra 
hands, in addition to my regular creAV, there was little difficulty in transporting the punt, the bio- o-un 
and other necessaries along the sands. Having made our Avay as near as possible to the foAvl without 
giving any alarm, I succeeded, after shipping one or tAvo seas Avhile getting afloat, in working up within 
range, the rough weather having apparently rendered the Avhole assemblage heedless of danger. At last 
with a couple of inehes of water above the bottom boards, I paused within thirty or forty yards of the 
stragglers at the west end of the line to watch the actions of the foAvl, till a glance to the north, where 
several breakers were following one another in rapid succession, Avarned me that if a shot was not instantly 
* In 1880 an adult male Avas shot off Brighton on tho 18th of August; this, however, was an unusually early arrival. 
