BRITISH BIRDS. 121 



wings, which aie dark lirown, with green and chestnut 

 narrow edges; the lower belly and the rest of the under 

 parts are dark bluish green ; legs and feet grey. Length, 

 2 feet 2 inches. The female is pale brown. 



This bird, so well known on account of the beautiful 

 down, with which (plucked from the breast of the female) 

 the eggs are covered, is a resident in Scotland, and 

 especially the Scottish Isles, where it is almost domesti- 

 cated. 



It feeds like the otiier duck*, and can remain under 

 water for a long time. 



Goosander. — The bill is long, narrow, curved at the tip, 

 which is black, and the rest j'ellow : the eye orange ; the 

 head and upper neck, as well as the back and the greater 

 wing coverts, greenish blue black ; the lower half of the 

 neck tinged wnth pale j.ink; the rump, tail, and lesser 

 wing coverts pale bluish gre}' ; legs and feet yellowish. 

 Length, 2 feet 2 inches. The female has the head reddish 

 brown. 



It is a native of the north, occurring in Britain in winter 

 only ; and then, as a rule, sparingh'. It is said sometimes 

 to breed in the Hebrides. 



The nest is made on the banks of fresh-water lochs, 

 among long grass, or in a hollow stump of a tree. The 

 eggs, which are long and of an oval shape, are seven or 

 eight in number, and are of a buff or creamy j^ellow colour. 

 The young swim directly they are hatched. 



The goosander is a shy bird, cuts a very poor figure when 

 trying to walk on dry land, but flies, swims, and dives in 

 an easy and rapid manner. 



Red-Breasted Merganser. — Bill much the same as that 

 of the last species, without black tip ; the head and tlie 

 beginning of the neck dark greenish blue, with a metallic 

 gloss ; the back of the former is ornamented with a tuft of 



