8o THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



If disturbed the Merganser sinks its body or dives, but when 

 it rises scutters along the surface for some yards. On the wing 

 it is quick, flying straight and usually low. It has a grating 

 flight call, not unlike that of the Goosander, but as a rule it is 

 not noisy except when pairing, when it constantly coos as it 

 stretches its head upwards, after the fashion of the Eider. 

 Some of the winter visitors arrive in September, and the 

 largest numbers are passing in October and throughout May. 

 In spring the drakes go through display long before they leave 

 the coast ; I have seen them very fussy in January, as many as 

 half a dozen showing ofif before one duck, who frequently 

 dashed at one of her too attentive admirers. There is a family 

 likeness in all duck displays, but they differ according to the 

 colour or pattern adornment of the drake ; he strives to exhibit 

 his best points. Thus the Merganser slightly raises his wings 

 so as to extend the black-barred white secondaries, and 

 stretches up his neck to show his collar ; when he raises himself 

 in the water, as if seating himself more comfortably, the breast 

 band is exhibited. I have seen the drakes force themselves 

 suddenly through the water when striving to frighten away a 

 rival. The habit of rising in the water, with or without wing 

 flapping, is by no means confined to the pairing season. 



The nest in most cases is well concealed by brambles or 

 other bushes, or by rank herbage ; the bird sits closely. It is a 

 slight structure, well lined with grey down when the clutch of 

 eight to twelve drab or slightly greenish eggs (Plate 21 ) is 

 complete at the end of May or in early June. Sometimes many 

 nests are in a small area. The ducklings, brown with white 

 spots on wings and sides and with rich chestnut cheeks, are 

 led to the nearest water, and a few days later conveyed along 

 the outflow stream to the sea. If falls or rapids bar the way 

 the duck walks them down to quieter water. In the estuary or 

 on the shore the ducklings share the strange habit of the 

 Sheld-Duck and Eider ; some of them leave or are left by the 



