VELVET DUCK. 
215 
flavour, havings been exempted from tbe interdict, 
the supposition of their being cold blooded, and 
P^^takimr of the nature of fish.* 
.The scoter aboimrts in Lapland, Norvvay, Sweden, 
I '***sia, and Siberia. It was also found by Osbeck, 
Jfo’oen tbe islands of Java and St Paul, lat. 30 and 
ill the month of June.-]' 
..This species is twenty-one inche.s in length, and 
I tty-four in e.xtent, and is easily distinguished from 
p other ducks by the peculiar form of its bill, n hich 
!?* at the base a large elevated knob, of a red colour, 
Jt'ided by a narrow line of yellow, which .spreads over 
■p middle of the upper mandible, reaching nearly to 
.r e.xtremity, the edges and lower mandible are black ; 
eyelid ‘is vellow; iridcs, dark hazel; the whole 
W'lmage is black, inclining to purple on the head and 
; legs uiul feet, reddish, 
i.The female has little or nothing of the knob on the 
; her plumage, above, a sooty brown, and below of a 
^'tyish white. 
^70. AXAS FUSCAj LIXX.EUS AXD WILSON. VELVET DUCK. 
''^'■SON, TL.VrE LXXn. FIG. III. ^ — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This and the preceding are frequently confounded 
‘"gether as one and the same species by our gunners 
the sea coast. The former, however, differs in being 
greater size ; in having a broad band of white across 
‘“n wing; a spot of the same under tlie eye; and in tbe 
*|!'Uctun* of its bill. Tlie habits of both are very much 
* ; they visit us only during the winter ; feed entirely 
j shell li'sb, which they procure by diving; and return 
f file northern regions' early in .spring to breed. They 
j associate witli the scoters, and are taken frequently 
« file same nets with them. Owing to the rank, lisliy 
*'"onr of its flesh, it is seldom sought after by our 
I*®i'tsmeu or gunners, and is very little esteemed. 
f Yoljage, i. p. 120. 
* Bewick, 
