BIRDS OF THE MARSH AND LAKE 401 



great distance as they rest upon the sea. The 

 Scoter nests occasionally in the north of Scotland. 



The Eider is less consistently a winter visitor to 

 Great Britain than others of its congeners, and, 

 indeed, in the north of England and in Scotland 

 it is resident and nests annually in great numbers 

 upon the coasts. In the drake, in full breeding 

 dress, the under surfaces are black and the back 

 and wings white, a reversal of the usual order in 

 plumage, and these hues, together with his buff 

 breast and black and green head, place him in 

 strong contrast with the females of the species, 

 which remain in their sombre brown garb through- 

 out the year. The nest of the Eider is well known 

 by reason of the vast quantity of the softest down 

 which, torn from the breast of the duck by her 

 own act, is used as a lining. This is regularly 

 collected as an article of commerce. 



The Sheld-duck, too, is a resident species and, 

 as in the case of the male Eider, the drake, with 

 his glossy head and variegated black and white 

 plumage, is a strikingly handsome bird. In his 

 colouring he stands alone by reason of the rich 

 chestnut band which extends around the upper 

 breast and covers part of the back. The nest of 

 this species is usually made in rabbit-holes. 



Of the Mergansers, distinguished from the true 

 ducks by their narrow serrated bills, a feature which 

 has gained for them the name of Saw-bill, the Red- 

 breasted is the most common. Although in Eng- 

 land it is mainly a winter visitor, it is resident in 

 the north, and in most parts of Scotland is a 

 familiar breeding species. The drake has a green 

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