SCOTI:I:.
do these bird) collect in the vicinity of the tntMeol-banka about Goring and off other parts of the coast
of west Sussex in winter and early spring, that I have nut uufrequently heard the fishermen, while discoursing
on tin' subject in answer tu inquiries, remark how many acres of Coots* they had seen.
During January and February 18*s^ 1 passed several days in steaming up ami down olf the Norfolk
and Suffolk coast from Ilnsborough to Smith wold, in order to study the habits and actions of the various
species of Ducks resorting to the salt, water uff these -andy shores, and having mounted a breech-loading puntgun
on the bows there was little difficulty in procuring any specimens required. Scoters were met with over
the whole distance, straggling parties of from a score to three or four times that number being generally seen
about Horsey, H'interton, Caisler, and Yarmouth t'.oads, while oil" Cortou, 1'akelield, and Covehitbe, and still
further south, they were not uufrequently observed in Cocks of from three to live hundred strong. As I
was anxious to procure specimens showing the various stages of plumage, several shots were tired and some
curiously marked young males obtained. When tirst approached the birds took little notice of the steamboat;
the same Hock would, however, seldom permit a second chance for inspecting their ranks till
•even] hours had passed. On one occasion (January iilsl) vie steamed slowly towards about three hundred
busily feeding over a bank within a quarter of a mile or the sandy beach at l'akefleld; when little over a
hundred yards distant the whole body dived, and putting on full speed we reached the spot where they
bad disappeared before a single bird had risen to the surface. For at least fifty or sixty yards round the
vessel the water seemed alive with birds as they popped up almost as instantaneously as they went under.
A few again ducked dowo iu their alarm, but the greater number sprum; at once on wing, affording an
excellent chance for securing with the shouhler-gun two or three exhibiting a curious mottled plumage.
Had slaughter been desirable, and the steamboat cased or stopped about sixty or seventy yards sooner, a
heavy shot might have been obtained; to kill more than were required, however, was useless, as this
species, like the rest of the family, is utterly unlit for the table, its flesh being rank and unpalatable.
On the lit)) of February, while steaming towards the north, a shot was fired from the hiij gun about half a
mile otr Winterton; a fresh breeze was blowing from the north-east, and the crew of a yawl stationed at
the look-out near the beach evidently mistouk the sound for a signal from one of the floating light-ships.
In less than a minute sixty or seventy men were busily engaged in running their craft down the sands,
and n strong crew having been taken on buard, they put. olf at once, evidently bound for the ' Cockle,' our
attempts to induce them to turn back being utterly disregarded. On the 11th immense numbers of Scoters,
together with flocks of Velvet Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks, as well as a few Scaup Dueks, were met with
scattered over the roads between Yarmouth harbour and Corton Church ; not needing specimens, ample
opportunities were afforded for closely examining the various parties. The peculiar form of a short-tailed bird,
however, attracted attention, and this oddity I was enabled to procure with the shoulder-gun, causing hut little
alarm to any of the surrounding fowl. On lifting the unknown to the deck in the deidJe the species was
readily ascertained, viz. a Common Scoter, in all probability sull'ering from wounds; the wings and tho
plumage ou the bead, neck, and portions of tho back were much the same as those of immature males,
though somewhat lighter, while the only covering on the rest of the body was a thick down mottled with
grey and brown, the absence of the tail-feathers rendering its appearance especially strange.
There are usually every winter large flocks of Scoters harbouring at sea just off the boat-sheds in
which my punts are housed on the shingle-banks near Shureham; a few birds, usually old males, often
separate from the main bodies, which generally keep about a mile at sea, and singly or in small parties
of two or three fly iu towards the shore and alighting outside the breakers dive busily for food. On the
lflth of January, 1SS1, I happened to turn the glasses on to one that approached within tin: distance of
eighty or one hundred yards, and remarked that, though apparently a fully adult male, the bird showed
SCOTEH.
a conspicuous white patch on the throat and neck. After feeding somo time, he paddled nut to si-n, ami
placing his head over on his back, drifted slowly off with the tide; a punt was then run out, and the water
being as smooth as glass, there was little difficulty in sculling within range for the shoulder-gun. The bird on
being picked up proved to lie in particularly bright glossy phmingc, and ¡11 addition to the white patch on
the throat and neck, the colouring of the Is-ak, on which the knob was especially well developed, differed
considerably from the usual form. The orange mark 011 the upper mandible was continued down to tho
point including tho nail, while the whole of tho lower mandible was also a DEEP yellow, As this bird
was perfectly crammed with small crabs, it is probably in quest of these dainties that the Scoters so
frequently llsh along shore. Somo years hack in a large flock off Hcxhill I clearly identified an old male
Scoter with a perfectly white breast and lielly; this singular bird was Mini repeatedly, hut I fuilcd to
obtain a shot. A pair somewhat similar were observed the following year; hut the distance at which they
were examined was too great to allow a positive assertion ns to the species.
In winter Scoters not unfrequently appear hi small flocks on the Norfolk broads and men's: on
one occasion I noticed nearly twenty flying round llickling Broad in summer; these were doubtless nonbreeding
birds, resorting to tho "Wold," that had taken an unusually extended inland flight. While
gunning on several of the freshwater lochs in tie' North-ea-irrn Highland- durimr lie' winters of |s;:s
and 18110 I did not observe this species, though Scaup and Tufted Ducks, with which they often consort,
wen- exceedingly numerous.
A few remarks concerning THE soft pans of the specimens procured while making observations 011 this
species oil' the Norfolk and Suffolk coast in January and February lssj2 may not LIE out of place. Two drakes
in perfectly adult and most flossy plumage differed cnn-olerahly in the form and colouring of THE beak.
No. 1. An adult male with protulieranee on upper inaudible exceedingly prominent. The coloured line
down the centre a very deep orange, almost vermilion, deep orange round nostrils, the lower part of the coloured
patch being of a rich chrome-yellow. The remainder of the mandible with the protuberance a jet-black.
Dark orange circle round eye, which iu all specimens examined was a dark hazel. Legs, toes, and webs black.
No. 2. A male with the prol uberauci' considerably smaller; the yellow line down the upper inaudible
exceedingly faint ill parts, merely a small star showing above the knob, THE colouring being also paler
and the lower portion almost a lemon-yellow. The ring round the eye chrome-yellow. Iris, legs, and
feet corresponding with No. 1.
No. 3. An adult female. Upper mandible a dull slnfc-hhick, straight, with no knob*, a Beth tint
showing inside tho nostril. Ugs and toes a dusky olive-yellow, webs a dull brown ami the joints clouded.
No. i. An immature male, uu protuberance on upper mandible. The coloured patch much the same in
shape as on adult male, thuiigh the upper jiortioii was somewhat broader. The colourinif pale yellow, with
an orange tinge round nostrils. No ring round eye. l^egs and feet same as adult female No. a. The
plumage of this bird was a dull grey-brown, with a few black feathers showing here and then' in patches.
No, 5. An immature male, wilh slight PROTULH-rance on Upper mandible The coloured pstefa was
merely a pale yellow streak between ihe noslrils and an oblong imtcb of the same colour lower down, the
latter mottled with a few small black spots. Inside of nostrils yellow.- No circle round EYE. Lege and
feet same as adult female. A uniform dull dark brown, with few conspicuous markings, pervaded the whole
of the plumage.
The immature males finured on the FktC are the twoapeehnana (1 and 3) referred to above. As to
whether they exhibit the plumage of the lirst or second winter, I should lie sorry to venture an opinion :
the ago nt which I his species assumes Ihe perfect iidult dress seems also extremely doubtful