WILD FOWL 
Total length about 22 inches; bill 1 ‘8 inch; wing 10*5 inches; tail 3*5 
inches; tarsus 1 *9 inch. 
Adult female. — General colour of the head, neck and upperparts brown; 
lores and ear-coverts whitish; secondaries and tips of the greater secon- 
dary coverts white ; breast and underparts lighter greyish -brown, mottled 
with whitish. Iris brown; bill brown; legs and feet paler than in the 
male. Total length about 20 inches; bill 1*6 inch; wing 9*5 inches; tail 
2 *8 inches; tarsus 1 *8 inch. 
General distribution. — ^The velvet-scoter breeds in Northern Europe and 
Asia at least as far east as the mouth of the Yenesei in Western Siberia. 
It is commonly met with on the lakes in Scandinavia and North Russia, 
and is said to breed as far south as Podolia in South Russia, in 48° N. 
latitude. In winter it visits the coasts of Western Europe, the Mediter- 
ranean, Black and Caspian Seas, and is occasionally met with off Algeria 
and in Tunisia. 
Distribution in the British Isles. — To the British Isles it is a regular but 
not very numerous winter -visitor, being most often met with off the 
east and south coasts of Great Britain. It is common in the Orkney Islands, 
and small flocks of non -breeding (?) male birds may be seen there and on 
the east coast of Scotland throughout the summer. It is rare in the Shet- 
lands, and uncommon in the Outer Hebrides, while in Ireland, though 
not infrequently met with off the northern and eastern coasts, it is almost 
unknown on the west. To the Faeroes it is an accidental visitor, and has 
been recorded from Greenland. 
Nest and eggs.- — Its breeding-habits are much like those of the common 
scoter, and its eggs, laid rather late in June to July, are similar, but some- 
what larger, measuring about 2*75 by 1*85 inches. 
One or more pairs of the velvet-scoter are often to be seen in winter in 
company with large flocks of the common species. The food is similar, 
and the flesh equally rank. 
Allied forms. — ^In North America it is represented by an allied form, 
(E. deglandi, with the base of the bill much higher, the feathering more 
extended, and the flanks olive-brown; while in East Siberia, China 
and Japan its place is taken by (E. carbo, with a larger and more swollen 
knob at the base of the bill. 
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