Part 37

Breeding in the far north of Europe this species visits us in considerable numbers during the winter, feeding on molluscs, crustacea, and small fish, which are plentiful on our low, flat, alluvial shores. It goes about in large flocks, and although obtaining much of its food by diving, it is also fond of feeding on the soft ooze left bare by the receding tide. The note is a harsh "scaup."

It is only during the last two or three years that it has been proved beyond doubt to nest in a particular locality in Scotland, where it is strictly preserved.

The nest is placed among stones or rough grass near some pool or mere, and the eggs, which are pale greenish grey, are usually about ten in number.

The male has the whole of the head, neck, breast, and upper parts black, the mantle being thickly vermiculated with white. Under parts white; bill greyish blue; eyes pale yellow; legs bluish. The female has those parts which are black in the male dull brown, and the vermiculations on the back are very scanty. There is a white band round the base of the bill. The young resemble the female, and immature Drakes do not acquire their full plumage for two or three years. Length 19 in; wing 8·5 in.

THE GOLDEN-EYE DUCK Clangula glaucion (Linnæus)

Breeding in Northern Europe, this species generally arrives here in October, and may be found sparingly on inland rivers and lakes, as well as in estuaries, becoming commoner in the north. In food and general habits it much resembles the preceding species, but its nest is placed in holes of trees at some distance from the ground, the old hole of a Black Woodpecker being frequently made use of in Scandinavia. The Lapps, in order to obtain the eggs of this and other kindred species, place nest-boxes in the pine and birch woods, the majority of which are tenanted by this species. The eggs, about twelve in number, are bright green. It has never been known to nest with us.

The male has the head and upper neck glossy greenish black, with a conspicuous white oval patch under each eye; the rest of the upper parts, except the scapulars, black; scapulars, a large wing patch, and under parts white. Bill bluish black. Legs yellow, with black webs. The female has the black parts in the male replaced by greyish brown, and the white wing patch is much smaller in extent. The white spot below the eye is absent. The neck and breast are greyish. The young resemble the female. Length 18·5 in.; wing 8·25 in.

THE BUFFEL-HEADED DUCK Clangula albeola (Linnæus)

Only two or three examples of this North American species have been obtained in this country. In general coloration it bears a distant resemblance to the Golden-eye, but the male may be recognised by the presence of a large triangular white patch on the head, having its apex at the back of the eye. The female is a dull-coloured bird of various shades of brown. Length 15 in.; wing 6·75 in.

THE LONG-TAILED DUCK Harelda glacialis (Linnæus)

Like many other of our Ducks this is a species which breeds in the north and only visits us in winter. It is fairly common in the north of Scotland and adjoining islands, and there is some evidence that it may occasionally have stayed to breed in the Shetlands. On the east of England immature examples are sometimes shot, especially in severe winters, and the same may be said for the north of Ireland. Over the rest of our islands it is decidedly a rare bird.

Like most Diving Ducks, its food consists of crustaceans and molluscs, and during the winter it is rarely found inland; in the breeding season, however, it frequents small meres and ponds, feeding largely on aquatic vegetation.

The nest is placed near the water on the ground, and warmly lined with down. The eggs are of a bluish green colour.

In its plumage this species is somewhat peculiar. It assumes in October a black-and-white plumage, in which the head and neck are white except for a brownish grey patch on the cheeks and an oval patch of dark brown on each side of the neck. The upper parts, breast, wing coverts, and central tail feathers, which latter are much elongated, are black. The scapulars, secondaries, outer tail feathers, and under parts white. Bill black, with pinkish band. Legs lead grey. In April, just previous to the breeding season, the white portions of the upper parts are changed, and become of various shades of brown or tawny. The female lacks the elongated tail feathers, is duller, and has the white portions brownish; otherwise she resembles the Drake and undergoes similar changes of plumage. Length, inclusive of tail, 25 in.; wing 8·8 in.

THE HARLEQUIN DUCK Cosmonetta histrionica (Linnæus)

Iceland is the nearest breeding resort of this species, which nests also in Eastern Siberia, and only three or four examples have occurred on our coasts.

It is a very peculiarly marked Duck; the general colour above is bluish black, with a white spot at the base of the bill and behind each ear; a white line runs backwards over the crown, and another down the sides of the neck. A white ring, bordered with black, encircles the lower neck, and there is another similar one across the breast; the under parts are dark greyish brown. Length 17 in.; wing 8 in.

THE EIDER DUCK Somateria mollissima (Linnæus)

This exclusively Sea-Duck is not uncommon from Northumberland northwards, where it is resident, and breeds in all suitable localities; but over the rest of our coasts it is rare, and only met with occasionally.

In food and habits it calls for no special comment. The nest is placed usually on low rocky islets among the herbage or in crevices of the rocks, but it is sometimes found at considerable distances from the water and often at some height above the sea. Five is the usual number in a clutch, the eggs being large, somewhat pointed, and greenish grey in colour. This bird is famous for the down with which its nest is lined, and on this account is stringently protected in many places abroad. The first two nests are generally taken, the Duck being allowed to hatch her third clutch unmolested.

The Drakes are extremely handsome birds. The head and neck are black, with the exception of a white line running backwards from the crown to the nape, which is green. The cheeks, back wing coverts, and long sickle-shaped secondaries (characteristic of the Eider Ducks) white. Wings, rump, and tail black; breast warm buff. Rest of under parts black. Bill and legs greenish. In the "eclipse" plumage the whole of the head and white portions of the body (except the wing coverts) become dull brownish black. The female is rufous buff, with darker bars. Length 23 in.; wing 11 in.

THE KING EIDER Somateria spectabilis (Linnæus)

Essentially an Arctic species, and rarely wandering south even in winter, this species is a somewhat scarce visitor to our shores, though a good many examples have been taken, especially in the north. The large raised orange tubercle at the base of the bill and the dark clear-cut V mark underneath the chin, form fairly distinctive characters by which this species may be recognised, though an imperfect V mark is sometimes found on the Common Eider. The sickle-shaped secondaries are black and not white, as in the Common Eider. The female is smaller, but otherwise resembles the Common Eider, though on close examination she may be distinguished by the shape and extent of the backward prolongation of the beak sheath. Length 21 in.; wing 10·5 in.

STELLER'S EIDER Somateria stelleri (Pallas)

This is an Arctic species, nesting sparingly in Europe and more commonly on the tundras of Eastern Siberia. It is not very rare on the coast of Norway in winter, where many migrate westwards. Two examples only have been obtained in Great Britain.

It is the smallest of our Eiders. The male has the head white, with a bluish black patch across the occiput and on the chin. The rest of the upper parts are bluish black, except the falcate secondaries, which are striped with white. Under parts rufous chestnut. The female, except in size, is very like the Common Eider, but darker. Length 18 in.; wing 8·5 in.

THE COMMON SCOTER Oedemia nigra (Linnæus)

This species, except during the breeding season, is almost exclusively a Sea-Duck, spending most of its time some distance out at sea, only approaching the shallower water near the shore for food, and rarely entering bays or estuaries, except under stress of weather.