Page [330]

SPECIES 16. dNSS NIGRI&
                     SCOTER DUCK.
                 [Plate LXXII.-Fig. 2.
Le .Jlacreuse, Bitss. VI, P. 420. pl. 38. fig. 2.-BUFF. IX, p. 234. pl.
  16.-Pl. Ent. 978.-B3E~wcx, II,p. 288.-3rct. Zool. So. 484.
  -LATH. SYn. mp. 480.-PEALE'S Museumn, XNo. 2658.X
  THIS Duck is but little known along our seacoast, being more
usually met with in the northern than southern districts; and
only during the winter. Its food is shell fish, for which it is
almost perpetually diving. That small bivalve so often mention-
ed, small muscles, spout fish, called on the coast ri  r handles,
young clams, &c. furnish it with abundant fare; and wherever
these are plenty the Scoter is an occasional visitor. They swim,
seemingly at ease, amidst the very roughest of the surf; but fly
heavily along the surface, and to no great distance. They rarely
penetrate far up our rivers, but seem to prefer the neighbour-
hood of the ocean; differing in this respect from the Cormorant,
which often makes extensive visits to the interior.
  The Scoters are said to appear on the coasts of France in
great numbers, to which they are attracted by a certain kind
of small bivale shell fish called vaimeaux, probably differing
little from those already mentioned. Over the beds of these
shell fish the fishermen spread their nets, supporting them,
horizontally, at the height of two or three feet from the bottom.
At the flowing of the tide the Scoters approach in great num-
bers, diving after their favourite food, and soon get entangled
in the nets. Twenty or thirty dozen have sometimes been taken
in a single tide. These are sold to the Roman Catholics, who
I Jnas nigra, GMEIEL. Syst. i, p. 508,.o. 7.-.Ind. Orn. p. 848, Ao. 43.-_irare3
Jlan. dI'Orn. p. 856G.-I'EALL'S Jtllseum, .Ao. 2659,fienalc.