THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



lowed an entire sucker, the head of which had been partially digested, leaving 

 a portion still seven inches long to protrude into the bird's mouth. 



Like the Golden-eyes and some other ducks, this bird usually occupies a 

 hollow tree or stub for a nesting site. The cavity is warmly lined with weeds, 

 grasses and rootlets, and plentifully supplied with down from the bird's 

 breast. The eggs are of a clear creamy, or dull buffy tint, and have the 

 "hard-oil-finish" characteristic of all ducks' eggs. 



The young when hatched require to be transported to the water in the 

 maternal beak — a rather trying ordeal, we must presume. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



A. O. U. Xo. 130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). 



Synonyms. — Rku-l;rhasti:ii Siiki.uikakk ; Siii'.i.lurakk ; Saw-bill. 



Description. — AJalt nude: Head all around black, with a greenish gloss 

 on sides above; a loose crest from crown t<> nape; middle of neck all around 

 white; lower neck all around (narrowly and impurely behind) and fore-breast, 

 cinnamon-rufous streaked with black; sides of breast, upper back, and inner 

 scapulars black; a tuft of enlarged feathers on sides of breast before wing, each 

 feather white, bordered completely with black ; wing-coverts, outer scapulars, 

 speculum, and inner secondaries white, the latter black-edged; two narrow trans- 

 verse black bars formed by exposed bases of greater coverts and secondaries ; 

 primary-coverts, outer secondaries, and primaries blackish; sides and around 

 on rump heavily wavy-barred, black and white ; lower back and tail ashy gray, more 

 or less speckled or wavy-barred on tips with black and whitish; lower breast, belly, 

 and crissum white, usually tinged with pale salmon or cream color; bill narrower 

 than in preceding species; bill and feet bright red, the former with dusky ridge: 

 eyes carmine. Adult female and immature : Similar to those of preceding species. 

 but head duller, grayish chestnut; white of wing without black bars; position of 

 nostrils distinctive; bill and feet duller-colored. Length 20.00-25.00 (508.-635.) ; 

 wing 9.60 (243.8) ; tail 3.25 (82.6) ; bill 2.20 I 55.9) ; bill from nostril 1.75 (44.5) : 

 tarsus 1.75 (44.5). Female somewhat smaller than male. 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size; narrow serrated bill; head loosely 

 crested : reddish of breast and sides wavy-barred black and white, specifically dis- 

 tinctive for male. Females of this species cannot be told out of hand from those 

 of .1/. americanus. In hand the nostril within basal third of bill (as distinguished 

 from nostril just within basal half fur -1/. americanus) is diagnostic. River divers. 



Nesting.— Not known to breed in Ohio. Nest, on the ground among brush- 

 wood, rocks, and the like, near water; lined with leaves, mosses, and feathers. 

 Eggs, 6-12, creamy buff or dull buffy green. Av. size. 2.56 x 1.76 (65. x 447 > 



General Range.— Northern nortions of the northern hemisphere; south in 

 winter throughout the United States. 



