182 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



intensity of heat upon certain sheltered portions of 

 the land, that the temperature thereof frequently 

 surpasses that of the tropics. Captain Scoresby during 

 the course of his survey of the eastern coast of 

 Greenland, having landed one day on that desolate 

 shore, found the temperature of a certain spot 

 amongst the rocks to be 70 , and he describes the 

 effect thereof as being particularly relaxing. A 

 lavish and widespread vegetation too, decorates these 

 northern shores from June till about September, and 

 furnishes ample opportunity for the prosecution of 

 breeding undertakings on the part of sea-birds. In 

 ■order, however, to illustrate the fact, that birds can 

 nidify at a comparatively low temperature, we may 

 mention, that, on the 21st of June, 1853, an ivory 

 gull (Larus eburneus) was found sitting upon its 

 eggs in a small island to the north of Melville 

 Sound (l?.t. 76 ), when the thermometer indicated 

 only 35 of heat. 



As soon as the breeding duties of our bird have 

 terminated, and the new-fledged brood can provide 

 for themselves, and when the terrible rigours of the 

 Arctic winter — the sleet-charged blasts, the blight- 

 ing fogs, the destruction of vegetation, the soul- 

 depressing silence and frigidity of all things — com- 

 mence to be experienced, then he abandons his 

 summer seat, and travelling southwards, settles in 

 more genial latitudes. With strong, rapid unflagging 

 (light, he poises in the air over the dreary shores of 

 Greenland, Newfoundland, or Hudson's Bay, and 

 bidding them farewell, advances briskly for days 

 and days till he lands securely in Shetland, in Orkney, 

 in Sutherland, or the Hebrides, &c, and there, in 

 conjunction with his " co-mates and brothers in exile," 

 forthwith commences his winter campaign of diving, 

 fishing, glutting, &c. 



Unlike the great black -backed gull, the beauteous 

 northern diver, the Fulmar petrel, &c, the bird 

 now under review is of a decidedly social disposition, 

 and, on that account, is more frequently to be seen in 

 flocks than in a solitary state. Its voracity is excessive 

 and generally known ; and we need not wonder, 

 therefore, that its principal occupation consists in the 

 pursuit, capture and consumption of various species 

 of fish, especially sand-eels, for which it manifests an 

 especial relish. The following is the method of 

 procedure. 



The bird swims about gracefully upon the surface 

 of the sea for some little time, occasionally poking its 

 head and neck beneath the water, as if searching 

 about for some delicate morsel, then, suddenly 

 •elevating its body, and plunging straight ahead, it 

 instantly disappears from view. Its comrades, 

 suspecting that some sport is to be had below, follow 

 suit ; so that the entire flock seems to vanish, as if by 

 magic. After traversing the watery regions with 

 •considerable swiftness and dexterity (using the wings 

 as well as the webbed feet), the merganser appears 

 once more above the surface, bearing a fish in its 



mouth, and looking as lively as ever. The booty is 

 soon disposed of down " red lane," whereupon the 

 bird drinks a little water by way of condiment or 

 digestive, or perhaps to wash the meal down more 

 thoroughly ; and then gleefully flapping its wings, 

 it appears eminently satisfied with the entire pro- 

 ceeding. To inspect a pair or more of these birds 

 fishing in some shallow lake left amid some far off 

 waste of sand by the receded tide, is an extremely 

 interesting occupation. Such graceful movements, 

 such displays of agility, such attractive forms and 

 colouring cannot be discerned every day within the 

 circle of human intercourse. He who, towards the 

 autumn or mid-winter, occasionally devotes an hour 

 or so to the study and contemplation of sea-bird 

 habits and deportment, will assuredly not repent of 

 the proceeding. The ever-varied and beautiful lints 

 and shades of ocean, the bleakness and desolation of 

 open wastes of beach-sand, will touch his heart, and 

 impress grateful ideas on his mind that will haunt 

 him for years. 



The lavish prodigality of life-energy expended by 

 the red-breasted merganser, the pungent stimulating 

 character of the regions which it inhabits during the 

 most important period of its existence, conspire with 

 extensively endowed digestive powers to render it 

 excessively voracious. The mouth is provided with a 

 number of fine, conical, saw-like lamellae or teeth, 

 viz. about sixty in the upper jaw and about thirty-five 

 in the lower. The oesophagus also is specially large 

 and dilatable, so that ample provision is thuswise 

 made for the capture, steadfast seizure, and the 

 storing up of a liberal amount of edible matter. Sand 

 eels are especially delectable to the gustatory organs 

 of the bird. Away upon a desolate waste of sandy 

 shore, damp, pool-bespread, and wreck-strewn, the 

 bird establishes itself, and commences the opera- 

 tions necessary to the procurement of victuals. It 

 perseveringly digs its sharp beak into the retreats of 

 the sand-eel, until a desiderated morsel is grasped. 

 This species of eel is of a beautiful silvery colour — a 

 very delicate fish about five or six inches long ; so 

 that the merganser in whose body it is recorded no 

 fewer than twenty-four of these were found, had 

 managed, we should say, to obtain a pretty good 

 dinner of it ! 



Hovering on the confines of the comparatively 

 clumsy Anatidse, the mergansers seem to have 

 borrowed some portion of their marvellous beauty 

 and gracefulness from the allied family of the 

 Colymbidas. The diving powers of our bird are 

 remarkable. It is shy and wary, with sharp ears, 

 and exceedingly acute and far-ranging vision, and 

 so completely, so adequately and promptly can its 

 bodily movements be adjusted to the dictates or 

 promptings furnished by the senses— so intimately 

 associated and dependent are its motor and sensor 

 nerves — that when a sea-fowler fires off his gun, the 

 bird dives with incredible dexterity, disappearing from 



