RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 36 1 



This Merganser is again another general inhabitant of the 

 whole northern hemisphere, spreading itself in the summer 

 season throughout the remote fur countries and western in- 

 terior, from whence, at the approach and during the continu- 

 ance of winter, it migrates towards the sea-coast in quest of 

 open water and the necessary means of subsistence. The Red- 

 breasted Mergansers, equally common in Europe as in North 

 America, are seen as far as Iceland, breed in Greenland, and 

 inhabit most parts of the Russian dominions, particularly the 

 great rivers of Siberia and the waters of Lake Baikal. They 

 arrive about Hudson Bay in June as soon as the ice breaks 

 up, and make their nests immediately after, of withered grass, 

 and a lining of down or feathers from their breasts. The 

 young are at first of a dirty brown, like young goslings. 



The breeding-range of these birds is no less extensive than 

 the preceding. According to Audubon they nest in rank 

 weeds on the borders of lakes in Maine and other parts of the 

 Union, and Mr. Say observed them on Lake Michigan in 42°, 

 on the 7th of June, assembled there, no doubt, to pass the 

 summer. 



This species, like the rest of the family, dives well, and 

 dexterously eludes the sportsman when wounded, moving 

 about often in the greatest silence, with its bill only elevated 

 above the water for respiration. In the winter, while here, 

 these birds frequent the bays and estuaries as well as fresh 

 waters, and feed as usual on fry and shell-fish. 



The Shelldrake breeds from about latitude 42° in the West, and 

 from about latitude 45° in the East, to the Arctic Circle, and spar- 

 ingly north of that line. It winters on the coast from south Green- 

 land to the Southern States. 



It breeds in abundance on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick. 



The female bears all the burden of hatching the eggs and rear- 

 ing the young, for she is deserted by her mate soon after she begins 

 to sit. She is, however, equal to the task, and makes a most duti- 

 ful mother. She sits patiently and very closely on the nest, never 

 rising from it until an intruder is almost within arm's reach, and 

 then strives to decoy him from the spot. Soon after they are 

 hatched, the young are led to the water, and at an early age they 



