V E L V E T SCOTER.
(EDEMIA FUSCA.
L a m numbers of those fine birds ore to he met with on the saltwater lli-tlis ofT the shores of Ross aod
Cromarty and the adjoining counties, ns well as round other portions of the northern const-line. On tho
Firth of Forth a few were now and then seen in (iullnnc Hay, and also olf the Tyue sands near
Dunbar, during the winters I passed in the locality. Off all suitable parts of the east coast these birds
put in an appearance in larger or smaller numbers in autumn, remaining occasionally till the end of
April or beginning of May. So far south as the Channel they commonly make their way by Hie lirst
or second week in October, small parties regularly taking up their quarters by that date over the musselbanks
oil' Shorehum, Lancing, and Worthing *. These banks appear most attractive feeding-grounds for all
the diving-ducks, immense flocks of Scoters of both species, together with n few Eider and Long-tail Ducks,
gathering here iu severe winters. In Rye Ray and off St. Leonards and Hcxhill I also repeatedly fell in
with Velvet Scoters when shooting in that part of the Channel. If hitherto unmolested, thc^e birds are
usually far more confiding than the Common Scoter, offering almost invariably an easy chance for
seeming any desirable specimens; a shot or two, however, puts them on their guard, when for the
rest of the winter they will rise on the lirst signs of danger, spreading alarm to every flock of fowl in
view. Thouuh usually only consorting with diving-ducks, stress of weather will, at times, force this
hardy species into less congenial society: oo one occasion at least two hundred Velvet Scoters were
seen in company with Mallard, Wigcon, I'iotail, and various others of the web-footcd tribe, a herd of
Curlew, wading in the shoal walcr, being also intermixed with those nearest the shore. A few lines
extracted ami abridged from my notes for 1S(!9 will give some idea of this immense gathering.
In the latter end of November a gale that swept over the north-east coast caused a heavy sea in
the Dornoch Firth, and durum the height of the storm thousands of fowl collected in the wash of the water,
under the shelter of the sand-banks off the " Feudoin." Having decided to make an attempt to reach them,
we came lo the conclusion that the single punt, owing to its lightness and the case with which it could
bo DRAGGED ashore, even if full of water, would be most suitable for ihc purpose. Owing to Ihe swell,
it was impossible to launch front the boat-house, so having procured the assistance of two or three extra
hands, iu addition to my regular crew, there was little difficulty in transporting the punt, the big gun,
and other necessaries along the sands. Having made our way as near as possible to the fowl without
giving any alarm, I succeeded, after shipping one or two seas while getting afloat, in working up within
range, the rough weather having apparently rendered the whole assemblage heedless of danger. At last,
with a couple of inches or water above the bottom boards, I paused within thirty or forty yards of the
stragglers at the west end of the line to watch the actions of the fowl, till a glance to the north, where
several breakers wen* following one another in rapid succession, warned me that if a shot was not instantly
• In 1SS0 an adqlt mule mi ,t,nt off Briplitoii on ttie l!Mh of Aiigurt; thit, ho*™, m sn MUMUS'ly eirly IRRITIL,