346. OlDEMIA FUSCA . . . Vol. V. PI. XXIX.
Ve l v e t S c o t e r .
A common winter bird in the Orkney and Shetland Islands; solitary individuals have been killed on the
Thames and even further south
347. O lD EM IA P E R S P I C I L L A T A y p] X X X
SuRF-ScOTER.
Quite an accidental visitor from the coasts o f North America; has been killed about ten times in Britain.
Genus C l a n g u l a .
The Golden-eye, Barrow’s Dock, and the Buffle-headed Duck are about the only members o f this gen u s;
like several of the preceding forms they seek their food a t the bottom of the shallow parts o f the seas, the
inlets o f rivers, &c.
348. C l a n g u l a g l a u c i o n . . . . . . . . . . . Vol. V. PI XXX3
G o ld en -ey e .
A true winter visitant, said to have once found a breeding-place on Loch Assynt in Sutherland. Breeds
in Lapland.
349. C l a n g u l a a l b e o l a .
Buffle-headed Duck.
This American bird having been killed four o r five times in England, some have included it in our avifauna
lis ts ; and so do I, but without figuring it.
G e n u s H is t r io n ic u s .
The fantastically marked Harlequin Duck is the type and only known species o f this genus.
350. H i s t r i o n i c u s t o r q u a t u s ....................................................................................... i # ^ y 0j y pj XXXII
H a r l e q u in D uck.
A very rare visitant to Britain ; and when examples do occur, they are either females or young males o f
the first year.
Genus H a r e l d a .
A northern form o f a single species.
351. H a r e l d a g l a c i a l i s . . . . . • • • • • • Vol. V. PI. XXXIII.
L ong -t a il e d D u c k .
A common winter v isitan t; arrives in the Scottish firths in great abundance during the months of
autumn.
Subfamily MERGINiE.
The Mergansers are a very distinct family, differing in structure and mode o f life from the Ducks or
Cormorants, to which otherwise they are nearly allied. They live on the waters of both the Old and the
New World, and consist of about ten species.
Genus M e r g u s .
352. M e r g u s c a s t o r .....................................................................................................................................^ XXXIV.
G o osa n d e r .
A winter bird, frequenting our lakes when they are not frozen o ver; very destructive to freshwater fish.
Always to be seen a t Clumber in autumn and winter, goes north in summer.
353. . . . Vol. V. PI. XXXV. M e r g u s s e r r a t o r ........................................................................................................................
M e r g a n se r .
Found in Britain a t all seasons; common in the north o f Scotland.
f i f e s . . Vol. V. PI. XXXVI.
354. M e r g u s c u c u l l a t u s ...........................................................................................................
H o o d ed M e r g a n se r .
An American species, which has occasionally been found in Europe and Britain.
H R . Vol. V. PI. XXXVII.
355. M e r g u s a l b e l l u s ...........................................................................................................
S m e w or N u n .
A winter bird, rather scarce. Breeds in Lapland and the adjoining countries.
Family PODICIPnLE.
When the birds of the world are taken in review, it is interesting to note that certain forms are restricted
to very limited areas, while others are as widely distribnted. I t is to the latter category that the Grebes or
members of this family pertain ; for my experience tends to prove that one or other of the numerous species
are found throughout the entire globe; even in the islands o f the South Pacific they are to be met with, and
also all over North and South America. They do not appear to be limited by elevation, but tenant the