A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 147 



MERGUS SERRATOR 



313. Mergus serrator L. — THE RED-BREASTED MER- 

 GANSER. 



Mergus Serrator Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 129 (1758 — Europe 



Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Mergus serrator Linnaeus, Yarrell, iv, p. 494 ; Saunders, p. 473. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident and winter-visitor. Breeds 

 commonly Argyll, and Tay area, and northwards both on salt and 

 fresh waters, as well as Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands, and many 

 parts Ireland. Elsewhere common winter-visitor, chiefly coasts 

 and infrequently inland waters. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in northern portions of Northern 

 Hemisphere, south in winter to north Africa, Black and Caspian 

 Seas, Sind, China and Japan, in America to Lower California and 

 Florida, casual in Bermudas, Cuba, and Hawaiian Isles. 



MERGUS ALBELLUS 



314. Mergus albellus L.— THE SMEW. 



Mergus Albellus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 129 (1758 — Europe. 

 Restricted typical locality : Mediterranean, near Smyrna ; from the 

 first quotation : Hasselquist's Joiu-ney, p. 268). 

 Mergus albellus Linnaeus, Yarrell, iv, p. 499 ; Saunders, p. 475. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Winter-visitor. Not uncommon 

 Orkneys and east coast Great Britain, tolerably regular south coast, 

 but scarce west coasts, except in some I. Hebrides, where not 

 uncommon. Very rare O. Hebrides and Shetlands. Rare, but 

 probably annual, \^sitor Ireland. Occurs on fresh waters as well 

 as on coast, but adult males rarely recorded anywhere. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Northern Palsearctic region, from north 

 of Baltic to Bering Sea in summer. In winter south to north-west 

 Africa, Mediterranean generally. Black and Caspian Seas, north 

 India, China and Japan. 



MERGUS CUCULLATUS 



315. Mergus cucullatus L.— THE AMERICAN HOODED 



MERGANSER. 



Mergus cucullatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 129 (1758 — 



America). 



Mergus cucullatus Linnaeus, Yarrell, iv, p. 509 ; Saimders, p. 477. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Very rare vagrant. Four fully 

 authenticated, viz. young male Menai Straits (N. Wales), winter 

 1830-31 ; pair Queenstown Harbour (Cork), Dec, 1878 ; female 



l2 



