ANATIDAE—DUCKS.
211
Velvet Scoter : OEdemia fusca.
An uncommon winter visitor to our coast.
Henry Doubleday says (10)
he saw one in 1832 in a Col-
lection at Colchester, obtained
on the adjacent coast. During
the winter of 1829-30, " About
thirty were seen in the Stour
near Harwich," but "they were
so expert in diving that but
few were shot " (Hoy—12. iii.
436). Lindsey says (27. App.
63) that it is " only a winter
visitor" to Harwich. He
adds : " From its habits of
diving rather than flying, when
approached, it is sometimes
caught in the nets of our sea- velvet scoters, malt and female. 1/11.
fishermen.'' Mr. Ambrose has received it from Mersea. A few are seen in Handford
Water every winter (Kerry). It was recorded from Southend in the winter of
1860-61 (23. 73S6). Mr. Hope has one shot at Maldon in Feb., 1874.
Goosander: Mergus Merganser. Locally, "Sawbill" and
" Merganser " (E. A. F.).
An uncommon winter visitor to our coast from autumn to spring.
Unlike its relative, the Merganser, it is not unfrequently met with
inland.
Dale, writing of
Harwich, in 1730,
says (2. 402) : " This
is frequently to be
met with here," but
Mr. Kerry considers
it now rare there. He
records one (34.
4827) shot in the
harbour on Jan. 17th,
1876. Mr. Clarke
speaks of it (24) as oc-
casionally met with
round Walden. He
mentions a female 
shot at Debden Hall
on Jan. 30th, 1830,
one killed at Little-
bury three days
later, and two ma-
ture males at Aud-
ley End (now in the Collection there) on Jan. 27th and 29th, 1838. Dr.
P 2