MERGANSEKS. 225 



northward; goes south in Sept. and Oct.; 

 north in April. Winters, from the Middle 

 States southward to the Gulf of Mexico. 

 More scatteringly north to Mass. Common 

 on fresh water; occasionally seen on salt 

 water. Nests placed in holes of trees; eggs, 

 6-10 pale buff. Cry harsh, but duck like. 



190. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Smaller, 22, males with a well defined 

 crest, breast and sides of neck, buff, streaked 

 with black, creamy white beneath, fig. 168; 

 female and summer and fall male, throat 

 less white and red of head and neck not 

 separated from white beneath by a well de- 

 fined line of demarkation. Young, similar 

 but duller. Nests, on .s;round; eggs, 6-10, 

 greenish-brown. Breeds chiefly north of 

 the U. S. : winters from N. E. to Fla. when 

 it occur off our coast in flocks of thousands 

 which sit on the water in compact masses 

 or rise and fly about in a disorderly manner; 

 south in Oct., north in April. 



