74 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



Generally distributed throughout the state and not at all uncommon 

 during the migi-ations. Well known to sportsmen who generally despise 

 the "fish ducks," considering them unfit for food. This bird occurs spring 

 and fall on all the waters of the state, the smaller ponds and streams as 

 well as the shores of the Great Lakes. It nests, at least occasionally, 

 from the Saginaw Valley northward, and Dr. Gibbs states that he has 

 found it once with a brood of young in Kent county. Mr. Edward Arnold 

 informs me that in ]\Iay, 1905 he found a nest with fourteen eggs at Saginaw 

 Bay, Michigan. Mr. O. B. Warren states that in Marquette county it 

 nests on isolated lakes near Palmer, Major Boies says it breeds on the 

 St. Mary's River at Neebish and elsewhere. S. E. White states that it is 

 not uncommon as a summer resident on Round Island about a mile from 

 Mackinac Island. Mr. Norman A. Wood and others found it breeding 

 along the Lake Superior shore in Ontonagon county and at Isle Royale 

 in the summer of 1894. Mr. Ed Van Winkle says it is abundant and breeds 

 in Delta county. While a majority of the birds go farther south to spend 

 the winter, undoubtedly a few remain wherever open water is found, 

 and Mr. Amos Butler states that on southern Lake Michigan it is one of 

 the commonest ducks during the winter months (Birds of Indiana, 1897, 

 p. 591). 



The bird feeds very largely on fish and has been accused of serious 

 injury to food fishes, particularly to trout. It is very doubtful, however, 

 whether it eats many trout, and we know positively that the bird is very 

 fond of crayfish, in which most of our Michigan streams abound. It dives 

 easily and swims with great rapidity below the water. 



The nest of this duck is usually placed in hollow trees, or holes in cliffs, 

 although Audubon describes it as on the ground among rushes. In one 

 instance, at least, it was found nesting in a little cave in the edge of a 

 rocky cliff on the shore of Saginaw^ Bay, and it is probable that it frequently 

 nests in this manner. The eggs vary from ten to sixteen, or possibly 

 more, are buffy white, and average 2.63 by 1.82 inches. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Nostrils near middle of bill. The adult male has the head and upper neck greenish- 

 black, the hind head short-crested; lower neck, breast, and belly white or pinkisli-white 

 (pale salmon); back black, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail ashy-gray, wing-coverts 

 with a large white patch crossed by a black bar. The adult female and the young have the 

 chin and upper throat white, rest of head and neck brown or grayish-brown; imder parts 

 white. 



Length of adult male 25 to 27 inches; wing, 10.50 to 11.25; culmen, 1.90 to 2.20. Length 

 of female 21 to 24 inches; wing, 9.60 to 9.75; culmen, 1.80 to 2.00. 



31. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator (Linn.). (130) 



Synonyms: Red-breasted Goosander, Red-breasted Shelldrake, Fish Duck, Common 

 Saw-bill. — Mergus or Merganser serrator of most authors. 



Figure 10. 



The adult male in full plumage is known by the black streaks on the 

 lower neck and sides of chest, and by the long, thin, green occipital crest 

 which is unlike that of either other species of Sawbill. The female has 

 a similar crest which is brown, giving the bird a close resemblance to the 

 female Goosander, which, however, is decidedly larger. 



