RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 247 



Family ANATID.E. Genus Mergus. 



Sub-family MERGIN.-E. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator, Limmus. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



British breeding area : It is somewhat remark- 

 able that the Red-breasted Merganser does not breed in 

 England, seeing that it does so in the same latitude 

 in Ireland. From the Clyde northwards the present 

 species breeds in all suitable localities, both inland and 

 maritime, up to the Orkne3's and the Shetlands, and 

 west to the Hebrides, but not, so far as I can learn, to 

 St. Kilda. In Ireland it is equally widel}^ dispersed, 

 both inland and on the coasts, but appears to be much 

 less numerous. 



Breeding habits : The principal breeding-grounds 

 of the Red-breasted Merganser are the quiet, secluded 

 shores of lochs and inland waters, and low rocky islands, 

 especially such as stud the fijords and inlets of the coast. 

 This species probably pairs for life. It can scarcely be 

 regarded as gregarious during the breeding season, 

 although numbers of nests may be found within a small 

 area of suitable ground. The nest is usually made under 

 the shelter of a rock or a bank, but rabbit-burrows and 

 crevices in walls are sometimes selected. Occasionally 

 it is made amongst long heath or furze close to the 

 water-side. The nest is scanty enough ; in many cases 

 dispensed with altogether, the eggs lying on the bare 

 ground until sufficient down accumulates to cover them. 

 It is merely a slight arrangement of dry grass and 

 leaves, but eventually the warm lining of down is added 

 which makes a luxurious bed for the Q.'ggs. The hen is 



