46 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
thousand Black Ducks circling in a cloud 
scarcely possible that these were all males 
whose mates were scattered on the nests over the tundra 
More probably they were the accumulation of the late flocks 
that we had seen migrating down the river, and which most 
to breed"^Th^ Previous year’s birds not yet adult enough 
lit 1^^^ appear to arrive at their summer quarters very 
very early, probably before the autumn 
moult takes place. If this be so, it will explain the statemS 
of Naumann that the adult males arrive in the Baltic in August 
but the young not until two months later; and also that of Mr’ 
Cecil Smith who found them on the Devonshire coast moult- 
ing their quills and unable to fly in the middle of September. 
A A A m of the Common Scoter is a gratin^ 
^/f-ir hke that of the Tufted Duck, but in early sjrfng he 
S” 1 1, “ 4““' »»“ »'>“'> “ » 
h « ™ ^ “'S'**' on migration, 
1 clumsily. It swims with^rfect 
ease, and obtains most of its food by diving. The food con- 
sists of molluscs and aquatic insects, varied with the seeds of 
W'ater-plants and other vegetable substances.” 
Nest-A hollow scooped in the ground, with a few twigs 
dead leaves, and dry grass, but plentifully lined with down. ^ ’ 
Eggs. Eight or nine in number, of a light creamy stone- 
SL^7T^5: " ^•4-^7 inches; 
Down.— Chocolate-brown, with a decidedly large “eye” of 
browm ‘'P® the down lighter and more ashy- 
II. THE VELVET SCOTER. CEDEMIA FUSCA. 
Anas/usca, Linn. S. N. i. p. 196 (1766). 
Oidemia fusca, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 134 (1852). 
CEdemia fusca. Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. dc?, pi a. a (iRt-,)- v 
O. U. List Br. B. p. 135 (1883) ; S^JnSert ed Sr^’ B^' 
(1885); Id. Man. Br. B. p. 45,; (1880) • 
Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxii. (1892) ; Livid. Cat.^B’ 
Brit. Mus. xxvn. p. 406 (1895). 
FuHgula fusca, Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 605 (1885), 
