(Plate VIII.) 
THE BLUE-BILL, OR SCAUP DUCK 
Fuligula marila (Linn.) Stephens. 
The Blue-bill is one of the best known, to gunners, of all our 
sea ducks, although by no means so abundant as some other 
species. It goes by a variety of names : on the northern coasts 
being called “ Blue-bill ” or “ Broad-bill;” in New Jersey, “ Broad- 
bill " on the Chesapeake and southward, ‘‘Blackhead,'' "Raft 
Duck," and “Shuffler." The books follow the English name 
“ Scaup Duck," which, Willoughby says, is derived from the bird’s 
habit ol eating “ a certain small kind of shell-fish called scaup." 
The Blue-bill ranges over the whole of North America in its 
migrations, breeding in the far north, and retreating southward for 
its winter home as far as the freezing of the inlets forces it, mov¬ 
ing northward again as the spring opens. 
It is met with along our whole Atlantic coast in winter asso¬ 
ciating with the Canvas-backs ( FuUgula vaUisnerial), and also 
upon the inland lakes, rivers, and marshes ; but Wilson thought 
those remaining upon salt water became much fatter than the oth¬ 
ers. It is also one of the most abundant species of British ducks, 
but all leave Great Britain in summer tor Iceland. 
“ It arrives among us/’ said Giraud, referring to the shores of 
Long Island, “ from the ioth to the 20 th of October, associates in 
large flocks, and on its first appearance is easily decoyed, but after 
having been frequently shot at becomes more shy, In stormy 
weather it takes shelter in the coves, and is frequently decoyed 
within gun-shot from the shore hy having a dog trained for the 
purpose of swimming between it and the shore, as also by quickly- 
moving a red handkerchief every few seconds, keeping your per¬ 
son concealed. This maneuver either charms or irritates it ; 1 am 
inclined to think the latter, from the impetuous manner in which it 
approaches. The scene is truly ludicrous. I have tried this 
method with other species without success. It remains with us in 
the winter until the severity of the weather compels it to leave for 
a better supply of food. When passing over frozen bays I have 
killed it at ‘air-openings.’ When wounded, it avoids pursuit by 
diving, and is famous for skulking under the banks. 
“ It is no particular advantage to have a large flock come up to 
the decoys, for the instant you rise to lire, they scatter in all direc¬ 
tions, so that it is difficult to get over two in range; when a flock 
swims up to you, as it occasionally happens, of course greater 
havoc is made. It passes the night on the flats in large flocks, 
seldom or never roosting on the marshes or meadow's, and is very 
quick in discovering the best feeding grounds. In passing through 
the narrow ‘ leads’ (as the gunners term the narrow creeks and 
channels that form those beautiful islands in our wide bays), to its 
favorite feeding grounds, it is easily killed without decovs. It 
returns to us early in the spring, and remains until the mild 
weather invites its vernal flight. When in good condition, its flesh 
by many is esteemed. In flying it seldom makes any other noise 
than that produced by the action ol its wings ; but in calm weather 
when swimming leisurely about, it gives utterance to’ a quick rat¬ 
tling or rolling sound. Its migratory flight is high and rapid. 
The summer home of the Scaup Duck is lar to the northward 
of the Lbiited States on the coast, but in the interior it is not 
uncommon to find it building its nest and rearing its young on the 
Great Lakes and in the retirement of the morasses of Wisconsin 
and Minnesota. The nest is described as constructed oi weeds 
and grass, placed upon the ground, and resembles that of the Mal¬ 
lard, vffiich breeds in the same region. In Alaska, Mr, W. H. 
Dali says it is abundant in summer. Lie procured its eggs at the 
mouth of the Yukon early in June. The nest he describes as 
“very rude, —a mere excavation with a few sticks about it.” 
There is another species of sea-duck which visits our coasts in 
winter, but is more common in the interior, and is also called 
“Blue-bill/ “ Black-bead/' etc,, generally' with the word “Little” 
prefixed, and therefore is often eonlounded with the Fuligula ma¬ 
rila of our plate. It is the Fuligula ajffirth. 
Giraud mentions that on the coast of Long Island it is called 
“ Greek Broad-bill ” by the gunners, because it frequents the small 
streams instead of the open bays. 
This species seems to be more generally distributed throughout 
the interior of the United States than the other, and in all prob¬ 
ability most of the “ Scaups ” trom such regions are of this kind. 
Like their congeners, they mainfy retire to remote Arctic lati¬ 
tudes to nestle, but Dr. Elliott Cones says that most of the 
many Scaups that he found breeding on the upper Missouri 
were of this kind. 
This species resembles the former not only in plumage but 
in general habits, feeding on “ small fry* erav-fishes, and a mix¬ 
ture of such grasses as here and there grow along the beds of our 
rivers,” to use Audubon’s language. 
