256 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



shot out into open water. We had cleared the cut 

 of the bar. 



Immature birds belonging to this species, that of 

 the Red-breasted Goosander, are more frequently to 

 be met with than would be thought probable by 

 some people. But it must be remembered that it is 

 impossible to ascribe limits to the range of fowl, and 

 that much confusion has been caused in former 

 years by classing, in different localities, the young of 

 different species, as well as the adults in different 

 states of plumage, under one comprehensive heading 

 of Sprat Loons, Dun Divers, or Sprat Divers. This 

 is not surprising, as on the water the fowl swim low, 

 and at a little distance off, from the deck of a vessel 

 or from an open boat, all these species look much 

 alike, and also of one colour, grey and white. 



The small Merganser, known as the Hooded 

 Merganser, belongs, properly speaking, to North 

 America, but occasionally it is seen off the coast of 

 Ireland. So-called English-killed specimens have, 

 it is true, been looked on with suspicion. But it 

 must be remembered that even those naturalists who 

 pose as great authorities do not shoot all the rare 

 birds which are to be found in their collections, and 

 as this bird has at different times reached Scotland, 

 what should prevent it from coming a little further 

 south durino- hard v/hite weather ? 



The last Hooded Merganser drake which I ex- 

 amined had been shot not far from the coast-lines of 

 the borders. The owner did not even know what 

 the bird was, and he had not the least suspicion that 



