Here it is seen in small troops of from ten to forty in number, toppling over the waves and looking truly* 
interesting. Such scenes as this may be frequently observed in the Firth of Forth, at the mouths of the 
larger rivers in Scotland, and in similar situations in some parts of Ireland, Its wing-powers, when assailed 
by the gunner in his sea-boat, are sufficient to enable it to get out of harm’s way, hy flying seaward, or 
from one part of the estuary to another ; its diving-powers also are by no means insignificant. It is therefore 
not readily approachable, and the acquisition of specimens is no easy task. When paired and breeding- 
on the far-off islands of the mysterious northern regions, it is much more tame in disposition, and attired in 
a dress which closely assimilates in colour to the surrounding herbage of the soppy fells with their moss- 
covered stones and scanty vegetation. 
Professor Reinhardt includes it in his “List of the Birds hitherto observed in Greenland” (Ibis, 1861), 
but does not furnish us with any details respecting it. Captain Blakiston, in his notes “ On the Birds of the 
Interior of British North America” (Ibis, 1863), mentions that he saw it in Hudson’s Bay; and Mr. Ross 
states that it is abundant on the Mackenzie. Mr. A. E. Verrill, in his “ Notes on the Natural History 
of Anticosti,” published in the Proceedings of the Boston Natural-History Society for 1862, states that the 
Long-tailed Duck breeds abundantly, and is very common there. Mr. A. Newton, in his “Notes on the Birds 
of Spitsbergen ” (Ibis, 1865), says the Harelda glacialis “ is one of the few regular visitants to that country, 
where, however, it seems to he scarce ; but it occurs as far north as the Depot Holm, lat. 80° N., where 
Dr. Malmgren saw a female bird. He also saw a pair in Kobbe Bay, on the 28th of May, 1861, and in 1864, 
on the first of August, met with a family party of five on a small pool of fresh water on one of the Horn 
Sound Islands.” Mr. H. Whitely, jun., obtained several specimens at Hakodadi, in Japan, in January 1865, 
from native bird-catchers, and states that it was common in the harbour in winter (Ibis, 1867) ; and 
Mr. R. Brown includes it in his “Synopsis of the Birds of Vancouver Island” (Ibis, 1868), The late 
Mr. M^heelwright, in his ‘ Spring and Summer in Lapland,’ says; — “The Long-tailed Ducks made their 
appearance on the Tana river towards the middle of May, and, after remaining there a short time, retired 
up the fell-lakes to breed. Before breeding, we always saw them in small flocks ; and I think of all Ducks 
these are the most restless ; for they are never still, but continually chasing each other about, uttering a pleasing- 
note, which Nilsson likens to the tone of a clarionet, ‘ a gleck, a gleck.’ The only nest I obtained was on 
the fell-meadow wdiere tbe Lap Buntings breed. I was walking down a narrow track-way by the side of a fell- 
lake, on the night of the 27th of June, when I nearly trod upon an old female sitting on her nest. Althomdi 
her head was turned towards me, she never attempted to rise, and I caught her on the nest, which contained 
seven fresh eggs. The next morning I saw two young broods on tbe water, apparently a few days old. 
During the breeding-season the old males appear to leave the females and congregate in small flocks ; and 
even in the end of June we used to see, occasionally, six or eight males on the river at Quickiock.” 
Mr. Hewitson “ met with this species in Noi'way in considerable numbers, always in flocks, roving from 
place to place, and apparently unattached to any particular localities, sometimes sweeping past within a 
few yards with great rapidity, uttering their strikingly wild musical and most interesting cries. 
“ Eggs were brought from Iceland by Mr. G. C. Atkinson, who foimd a nest near the margin of a small 
lake, lined with down and contaiulug six eggs. 
“Mr. Proctor tells me that the bird is common in the last-mentioned country, and that it makes its nest 
amongst low brushwood and aquatic plants at the edge of the fresh water, of a few stems of grass and reeds, 
well lined with down, and usually lays from six to ten eggs, which, however, in one instance were twelve 
in number. When recent they are of an asparagus-green colour, approaching to ap|)le-green, with the shell 
smooth ; of a broad oval form, an inch and eleven twelfths to two inches and a twelfth in length, and 
generally an inch and a half in breadth.” 
“ The male,” says Macgillivray, “ in swimming, raises his tail obliquely, in rough water almost erects it, 
and is remarkable for the grace and vivacity of his movements. Their flight is rapid, direct, and generallv 
performed at the height of a few feet. They rise easily from the water, especially when facing a breeze, 
and alight rather abruptly. Sometimes during the day, but more frequently at night, they emit various 
loud rather plaintive cries, as well as cacklings of various shorter guttural notes, which I think can neither 
be easily imitated nor well expressed in words. In the north-eastern isles this bird is known by the name of 
Caloe, as well as the whimsical one of Coal-and-Candle-light, both derived from its cries ; and in the 
Hebrides it is named lanbhochail, ian signifying a bird, and bhocbail expressing- its soft protracted note.” 
The front figure in the opposite plate represents a male, of the natural size, in winter plumage, the 
reduced figures a male and a female in that of summer. 
