COMMON SCOTER
'CEDEM1A NIGRA {Linn.).
Anas nigra, Linn. S. N. i. p. 196 (1766); Naum. xii. p. 108.
Oidemia nigra, Macg. v. p. 140; Hewitson, ii. p. 421.
CEdemia nigra, Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 472; Dresser, vi. p. 663.
Macreuse, French; Trauer-Ente, Mohr-Ente, German;
Pato negro, Spanish; Morell de Mar, Valencian.
This species breeds throughout Northern Europe
including Iceland, and a certain number nest annually
in the northernmost counties of Scotland; but to us
Englishmen in the restricted sense of the word, the bird
is best known as an autumnal and often exceedingly
abundant visitor to our coasts. I do not remember
ever to have crossed the Channel from Dover, Calais,
Folkestone, or Boulogne, at any time of year, without
seeing more or less of the present species, and I saw a
considerable flock on one occasion in June off the mouth
of the Garonne. I have often been told of the presence
of “ acres of Black Ducks ” in the winter in the Wash
and in Yarmouth Roads, and my late friend and
neighbour Mr. George Hunt some years ago brought
home some two hundred Scoters as part of the result of