196 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



the weather was rough, which added a good deal to 

 the zest of following up these birds. 



CASE 40. 



THE RED BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Ordei^, Ansej'es. Family, Anatidce. 



This species, commonly known by the name of 

 "Saw Bill," owing to its narrow mandibles being 

 serrated like a saw inside, is very generally dis- 

 tributed in the British Islands. In Scotland it is 

 resident in most of the lochs, and on the northern 

 and western shores of the mainland, in all of which 

 localities it breeds abundantly. It is also very 

 plentiful in the Hebrides, and nests in Ireland on all 

 the principal loughs ; there the local name for the 

 bird is "Sheld- Duck," and also "Spear Wigeon," this 

 latter name no doubt arising from its long sharp bill. 

 The original case I had made for this species con- 

 tained two drakes and two ducks. Subsequently, 

 coming to the conclusion that it wasn't large enough, 

 and that the birds looked too crowded, I had a case 

 of larger dimensions made, took out a drake and 

 a duck — retaining the best specimen of each — and 

 substituted in the place of the two parent birds, a 

 family of nine young ones. I think the alteration 

 has been extremely beneficial to the collection, for 

 now the case is one of the most artistic amongst the 

 whole number. The parent birds were obtained in 



