THE MERGANSERS. 6 1 



Goosander points it out at once as one of the few species of 

 Ducks Avhich breed in holes, those which breed in the open 

 having always dark down. The favourite nesting-place of the 

 Goosander is in a hollow tree-trunk, but in localities where 

 such sites are not plentiful, it shows considerable fertility of re- 

 source and capability of adaptation to circumstances in choos- 

 ing the best substitute. On these occasions, however, it often 

 displays more wit than wisdom. As the House-Martin has 

 discovered that under the eaves of a roof a better shelter for 

 its nest is to be found than under an overhanging cliff, so the 

 Goosander immediately avails itself of the wooden boxes 

 which the Finns fasten up in the trees to tempt them. These 

 boxes, or " holkar," are made with a trap- door behind, so that 

 the peasant may daily rob the nest, and thus make the too- 

 confiding bird lay a score or more eggs before the wary man 

 thinks it prudent to cease his depredations, and allow the 

 Goosander to sit upon the rest for fear of spoiling his next 

 year's harvest. If these boxes be not provided, and no hollow 

 trees are available, the Goosander finds a hole under a rock or 

 a cleft in the cliff, and has been known to utilise the old nest 

 of a crow or bird of prey in a tree or the top of a pollard- 

 willow.'^ 



Eggs. — From eight to twelve in number, of a creamy-buff 

 colour. Axis, 2"5-2*9 inches ; diam., i'8-i"9. 



Down.— Pale grey. 



II. THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. MERGANSER SERRATOR. 



Mergus serrator, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 2c8 (1766); Dresser, 



B. Eur. vi. p. 693, pi. 453 (1874) ; B. O. U. List Br. B. 



p. 136 (1883); Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 629 (1885); 



Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. p. 494 (1885); id. Man. Br. 



B. p. 461 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xxi. 



(1892); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 479 (1895). 

 Merganser sei-rator^ Macg. Brit. B. v. p. 216 (1852). 

 {Plate LXIV.) 

 Adult Male. — General colour above black over the mantle, 

 back, and scapulars, the outer of which are white, forming 

 a broad longitudinal band down each side of the back ; lower 

 back, rump, and upper tail-coverts ashy-grey, densely freckled 



