THE RED BREASTED MERGANSER. 



HY this duck should be 

 called red-breasted is not 

 at first apparent, as at a 

 a distance the color can 

 not be distinguished, but seen near, the 

 reason is plain. It is a common bird 

 in the United States in winter, where 

 it is found in suitable localities in the 

 months of May and June. It is also 

 a resident of the far north, breeding 

 abundantly in Newfoundland, Labra- 

 dor, Greenland, and Iceland. It is 

 liberally supplied with names, as Red- 

 breasted Goosander or Sheldrake, Gar- 

 bill, Sea Robin, etc. 



There is a difference in opinion as 

 to the nesting habits of the Red-breast, 

 some authorities claiming that, like 

 the Wood Duck, the nest is placed in 

 the cavity of a tree, others that it is 

 usually found on the ground among 

 brushwood, surrounded with tall 

 grasses and at a short distance from 

 water. Davie says that most gener- 

 ally it is concealed by a projecting 

 rock or other object, the nest being 

 made of leaves and mosses, lined with 

 feathers and down, which are plucked 

 from the breast of the bird. The ob- 



servers are all probably correct, the 

 bird adapting itself to the situation. 



Fish is the chief diet of the Mergan- 

 ser, for which reason its flesh is rank 

 and unpalatable. The Bird's appetite 

 is insatiable, devouring its food in 

 such quantities that it has frequently 

 to disgorge several times before it is 

 able to rise from the water. This 

 Duck can swallow fishes six or seven 

 inches in length, and will attempt to 

 swallow those of a larger size, choking 

 in the effort. 



The term Merganser is derived from 

 the plan of the bird's bill, which is 

 furnished with saw teeth fitting into 

 each other. 



The eggs of the Red -Breasted Mer- 

 ganser vary from six to twelve, are 

 oval in shape, and are of a yellowish 

 or reddish-drab, sometimes a dull 

 buffy -green. 



You may have seen pictures of this 

 Duck, which frequently figures in 

 dining rooms on the ornamental panels 

 of stuffed game birds, but none which 

 could cause you to remember its life- 

 like appearance. You here see before 

 you an actual Red-Breasted Merganser. 



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