VELVET SCOTER. 
165 
Out of Britain, the continental ornithologists inform 
us that it is found as far south as Italy. Its places 
of nidification are however not narrated, but it was 
observed by Mr. Hewitson, and some other northern 
travellers, in Norway, Sweden, and Scandinavia. In 
Lapland, writes Mr. Dann, in his notes to Mr. 
Yarrell, it is common everywhere, breeding on 
hummocks, among the willow swamps, or long grass 
near the water, by the edges of large lakes in moun- 
tainous districts. In North America the Velvet 
Scoter is also migratory, arriving on the shores of 
the middle states about the beginning of September, 
and stretching sometimes as far south as Georgia, 
while in April it commences again to retire north- 
ward to breed. The extreme limits in this direction 
have not been ascertained, but it was met with 
abundantly on the coasts of Labrador by Air. Audubon, 
many at the same time continuing their course 
northward. It is described by him as breeding by the 
sides of small lakes, two or three miles distant from 
the sea ; the nests being usually placed under the 
low boughs of the bushes, of the twigs of which, 
with mosses and various plants matted together, 
they are formed.* 
Plumage entirely of a deep velvet-black, except 
a pure white spot on the lower eyelid which passes 
behind the eye in the form of an acute angle, and 
the tips of the greater covers, which are of the same 
colour, and show a bright and strongly contrasting 
bar across each wing; on the head and neck the 
* Audubon, iii. p 357. 
