322 BRITISH BIRDS. 
VELVET DUCK. 
DOUBLE SCOTER, OR GREAT BLACK DUCK. 
(^Anas fufca, Lin . — La grande Macreufcy BufF.) 
The Velvet Duck is larger than a Mallard, weigh* 
ing about three pounds two ounces, and meafuring 
above twenty inches in length. The upper mandible 
is broad, and flat, and rifes into a kind of black 
knob at the bafe : the noflrils are of the fame co- 
lour, and lland out on each fide; the middle, or 
ridge, and the nail, are red ; the reft of it is orange 
yellow, edged with black. The under mandible is 
pale or yellowifli white, edged and fpotted with 
black, and tipped with deep yellow : both are 
coarfely ferrated. The head is large, the eyes fmall, 
with a fpot of white below each ; and the irides are 
nearly of the fame colour. All the reft of the plu- 
