inch and five-eighths in their greatest breadth, more equally rounded at both ends than usual, the shell perfectly
smooth, and of a uniform pale yellowish or cream colour. I saw no male near the nest, but in the
course o f the same day met with several males by themselves, about four miles distant from the marsh, as I
was returning to the harbour. This induced me to believe that, like the Eider and other ducks that breed
in Labrador, the males abandon the females as soon as incubation commences. I regret that, notwithstanding
all my further exertions, I did not succeed in discovering more nests or young birds. The Surf-Duck is a
powerful swimmer and an expert diver. It is frequently observed fishing at the depth of several fathoms, and
it floats buoyantly among the surf or the raging billows, where it Seems as unconcerned as if it Were on the
most tranquil waters. It rises on wing, however, with considerable difficulty, and in this respect resembles
the Velvet Duck; but when once fairly under weigh, it flies with great rapidity and to a great distance,
passing close to the water during heavy gales, but at the height o f forty or fifty yards in calm and pleasant
weather. It is uncommonly shy, and therefore difficult to be obtained, unless shot at while flying or when
asleep and, as it were, at anchor in a bay, or near the shore; for it dives so suddenly as to elude the best
percussion-lock guns. The female, which was killed as she flew from the nest, uttered a rough, uncouth,
guttural cry, somewhat resembling that of the Goosander on similar occasions; and I have never heard any
other sound from either sex. I have never seen this bird on any freshwater lake or river in any part of the
interior.”
I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. H. E. Dresser for the following interesting notes on the bird as seen
by him in Nova Scotia
“ The Surf-Scoter is not uncommon on the coast of New Brunswick during its spring migration, and in
some seasons occurs in great numbers. This was the case in 1862, when I spent a few days at Lepreaux
Lighthouse, which is placed on a rocky point jutting out from the mainland into the Bay o f Fundy. On
my arrival there on the 25th o f April myriads o f ducks were flying past, among which Surf-Scoters were
more numerous than any other species. They followed the line of the coast at a short distance from the
shore, and in passing the point generally steered close in, or flew over the end of the point itself. On the
26th I spent the day among the rocks ; and I never recollect seeing waterfowl in such countless numbers as
I did on that day, all wending their way northward. Velvet, Common, and especially Surf-Scoters, were the
most numerous; but there were also many Eiders, Brents, Long-tailed Ducks, with a few Harlequins, Great
Northern Divers, and some others. The Surf-Scoters flew in large compact flocks, from eight to ten deep.
I determined the length of the flocks by watching them as they passed certain points, the distance between
which was known to m e ; and I thus found that one compact flock was at least half a mile in length, a second
reached from one point to another, distant nearly a mile and a quarter. I made several very telling shots
amongst them, knocking over eight at one discharge, and six and four at a double shot, though I was only
using a light fifteen-bore gun. I found them, however, very hard to recover; for during the time the dog
was retrieving them one or two were sure to come to and paddle off, and the sea was too rough to go out in
a boat to pick up the cripples. The males proved to be far more numerous than the females, o f which sex I
only killed three during the whole day. The flesh o f the Scoter is generally considered very unpalatable;
but during my stay the lighthouse-keeper’s wife gave us some capital dishes composed of it. Perhaps hunger
was the sauce that made it so pleasant to m e ; but I suspect that the manner in which they were prepared
had a great deal to do with i t ; for I have repeatedly tried the experiment when camping on the sea-shore, but
always failed in rendering it agreeable.” ;
Professor Nilsson states, in his ‘ Fauna o f Scandinavia,’ that the Surf-Scoter is so rare in that part o f the
world that it had only occurred once or twice,'—the first time in 1833, when the specimen from which his
description and figure was taken was killed in Kazesuando, and sent to the Stockholm Museum by the Rev.
L. L. Lsestadius; the second was killed at Galmar on the 14th o f June 1846, and was sent to the same
museum by the Pilot Wirsen.
In our islands, examples have been procured on the coasts o f Orkney; and the late Robert Dunn states
that he saw a specimen in Rona’s Voe, Shetland, in June 1847. I have myself had an example from the
Frith of Forth ; Mr. Bartlett had one sent to him for preservation, as mentioned in ‘The Naturalist,’ vol. iii.
p. 420. In September 1865, Mr. Rodd, o f Penzance, informed me that he had just seen a splendid male
Surf-Scoter, which was captured in a disabled state by a boy at Scilly, and that a specimen in his own
collection was brought to him by a man who said he had picked it up within reach of the shore. Still
more recently a fine male was shot by Mr. J. H. Dunn near Stromness, at the end o f March 1866. It is now
in the possession o f Vauncy Harpur-Crewe, Esq.
The female differs from the male in having the entire plumage pf the body dull brownish black, and in
being devoid o f the rich colouring o f the bill, and the patches o f white on the head and the back of the neck
as will be seen on reference to the reduced figure o f this sex on the opposite Plate, where two males are
represented o f the size o f life.