ANATID^. 



473 



THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator, Linnseus. 



The Red-breasted Merganser is generally distributed during the 

 winter along the shores of England and ^^'ales ; but, unlike the 

 Goosander, it is not partial at that season to inland waters, though 

 sometimes observed far up tidal rivers. In Scotland it is resident, 

 and breeds in considerable numbers on the fresh-water lochs as 

 well as on the coasts of the northern and western districts of the 

 mainland, especially in Ross and Sutherland ; while it is abundant in 

 the Hebrides and Orkneys, though less frequent in the Shetlands. 

 In Ireland, where it is known as " Sheld-Duck," and occasionally as 

 " Spear-Wigeon " from the sharp serrated bill, it nests regularly on 

 most of the large loughs, and in many localities along the sea-board; 

 while hundreds may sometimes be seen together in severe weather. 



This species breeds in Greenland, Iceland, the Faroes, Scandi- 

 navia, Northern Russia, and — sparingly — on the islands of the 

 Baltic, as well as along its southern shores. In winter it visits the 

 lakes and large rivers of the Continent, though less plentiful there 

 than the Goosander ; yet on the coasts it is more numerous, and it 

 is by no means rare throughout the Mediterranean, migrating as far 

 as the waters of Algeria and Egypt. It ranges across Northern 



