we ç a » seldom ai tftése seasous cross «hé channel hbigfemi and fo e Çoptiuçnt without o b s e rv in g is
numerous flocks of them. winging their way from one shoal or Sshin^-place to another o r dtviriit ii» iwrsui
o f their prey.. Tltey, subsist alnjost entirely oo bivalves, such as the common mussel, dto., and they especial!'
aboucd where large beds, of these sheli-fisU aifovri them an unfailing supply o f favourite tlik-t their d o s e ad
pressed plumage and great power o f diving admirably- fitting them for tb é ir d estinedmode o f foe Althmigl
so jdentifol on bur shores, and on those o f the Continent, especially Holland, it does not appear «ft A it eva
breeds in our latitudes, but retires for that purpose to the seas, lakes, and morasses o f the arctrc c ircle, whe»o<
it is annually driven southwards as winter locks up these waters and precludes tbe » s sib ility o f its obtainim
its natural food. ' Of .its nidification we have no positive information, as is also the case with most o f thosi
bird« that resort to the higher r iio n s to breed.
Unlike most .of, the yJnaiidts, the Black Scoter and its allies undergo/ no. periodical change in thei;
plumage ; neither is there so great a dissimilarity between foe opposite sexes as there is in most others o f foil
family, thé brig: v rotoering o f the bill in the male and his more richly coloured plumage being the d:u
points of difference-- ■ v ^
The male has the whole of the plumage of 3 rich velvet black* the beak black with tlm-exeeptinc-'of riw
-nostrils, which are bright orangé, and die spbevkal «roîubêraiMre at the i*a»bi which is ÏHtoxfoiSi •*
'¡rides brown; naked circle round the eye red;• tarsus and foce hnwofeft &&
Thé female is characterized by a plumage of dull blackish brew» ; die h\il &&■■<% .
wanting the baajtl.ptotuberence j. the. - i<Jo of foe face, throat, and •«¡¡¿(foi- sïyrstçé lighter vii ctjjfour than foe:
upper. ,
Tlic Plate represents an adult male of the natural kmw.