420 
AN ATID/E. 
lakes on the mountainous districts, especially those of 
which the shores are flat and boggy, and covered with 
vegetation. In Lapland it is common everywhere. The 
eggs are much sought after by the Laps. These birds are 
also common in the Loire Fiel, appearing at the latter 
end of May. They hatch very late, seldom before the 
middle of July. Their nests are placed on hummocks, 
amongst the willow-swamps or long grass near the water. 
They frequent the lakes as high as the birch grows. 5 ' 
Mr. Wolley says, “on a hill side the Velvet Scoter 
makes its nest under the sweeping branches of a small 
Norway pine, if such is to be met with, but in the colder 
regions of the country it must find some other shelter. 
When it prefers an island, which it more seldom does, in 
the inhabited districts at least, it chooses a dry spot a few 
yards from the water edge. It is one of the latest breeders 
amongst the ducks, commencing only after midsummer. 
It seems, from all accounts, to be very variable in the 
number of its eggs." The egg figured is from the collec¬ 
tion of Mr. Wolley. 
