154 



Britis/i Birds. 



THE 

 GOOSANI)EK5J 

 (Merganser 

 merganser.) 



The Mergansers are large birds with long bills, the edges of 

 which are "serrated.' or ha\e saw-like margins. The Goosander, 

 which is the larger of the two resident British species, has no 

 dark collar across the fore-neck, and is white underneath, with 

 a beautiful tinge of salmon pink : the head and throat are black, 

 as well as the crest, all these parts being glossed with green. The female is sl;4^;- 

 grey above with a rufous head and neck. 



The Goosander breeds in the highlands of Scotland, but is elsewhere onh- known 

 as a winter visitor. It nests in Central and Northern Europe and throughout 

 Siberia. Its food consists almost entirely of fish, which it catches by diving. -The 

 nest is generally placed in the hole of a tree or cleft of a rock, while sometimes the 

 old nest of a Crow or other bird is utilized. The nesting-place is lined with the gre}' 

 down of the bird, and the eggs, eight to twelve in number, are of a crearijy-buff 

 colour and measure from two-and-a-half to nearly three inches in length. 



The Rf.d-hreasted Merganser. 



THE 



RED-BREASTED 



MERGANSER. 



[Merganser serrntor.) 



This is a smaller bird than the Goosander and is distinguished 

 from that species by the rufous band on the fore-neck, speckled 

 with black, as well as by the wavy bars on the sides of the body. 

 The dark brown flanks of the Red-breasted Merganser distinguish 

 the female of this species from the female of the Goosander. It 

 nests in Scotland and Ireland as well as throughout the northern portions of both 

 the Old and New Worlds, migrating south in winter. Its food consists of fish, small 

 Crustacea and shell-fish, and it is an expert diver. In winter it leaves its inland 

 habitat, and collects in flocks. The nest is a mere hollow in the ground, lined with 



