164 
THE TEL VET SCOTER. 
and is a winter visitant on our coasts. Mr. Yarrell 
states that it is not a common species on the 
southern coasts, and enumerates the counties off 
which it has been killed, which arc few in num- 
ber : 1832 and 1837, are mentioned as winters 
in which it had been obtained in the London 
markets, showing that its occurrence to the poul- 
trymen there must be precarious. It increases 
northward ; we have received specimens from the 
vicinity of Orkney, where we have been informed 
that it is abundant, while in the Firth of Forth it is 
by no means uncommon. In the latter it occurs in 
small parties, and some may almost always, during 
winter, be seen either riding leisurely at their ease, 
or diving actively. In a boat we have frequently 
come up with them, and did not perceive that ex- 
treme shyness which is attributed to them by many 
describers. With a slight breeze and sailing as if to 
pass the flock, keeping at the same time as free from 
motion as possible, we have not found difficulty 
in getting within shot, the birds not taking v r ing 
until approached within forty yards, and then giving 
abundance of time to the sportsman, from rising 
heavily until clear of the water. From being in littlo 
esteem for the table, they are not frequently seen in 
the Edinburgh markets, at the same time many spe- 
cimens may be obtained by attention during winter. 
The food is principally bivalve molusca, frequently 
those of a very hard structure ; the strong covering 
of which their very powerful gizzard enables them 
easily to bruise and triturate. 
