MERGANSER SEKHATOR H.Sl 



" This species, Mr. Thompson says, ... is iiuligeuous to 

 Iceland, nesting in islets both of marine and fresh-water loughs. 

 Pennant has recorded its breeding in the Isle of Islay. Sir W. 

 Jardine and Mr. Selby found nests of this species when on a fishing 

 excursion upon Loch Awe, in Argyllshire. One of these nests was 

 upon a small wooded island, placed among thick brushwood, under 

 the covert of a projecting rock, and completely surrounded with 

 nettles, long grasses, and ferns. It was carefully made of moss 

 plucked from the adjoining rocks, mixed with the down of the bird, 

 both in structure and materials, resembling that of the Eider Duck. 

 It contained nine eggs, of a rich reddish yellow or fawn colour. 

 The bird was remarkably tame, sitting until nearly taken with a 

 small hand-net. Sir W. Jardine ver>- kindly sent me one of these 

 eggs for my collection ; it measured 2i inches in lengtli and if inches 

 in breadth." 



Dresser also says that : — 



" It usually places its nest upon the ground in quiet, unfrequented 

 places amongst the low bushes or rank herbage ; occasionally it is 

 found in the hollow of a tree. I possess a nest, which is now before 

 me, and which is composed of moss, fine grass-bents, and very small 

 pieces of twigs well felted together and mixed with down. 



" The eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are usually deposited 

 in June, or somewhat earlier than that." 



He describes the eggs as being " a dull stone-drab or creamy-buff, 

 with a greenish-grey tinge, and measuring approximately from 

 2'55 to ■280 inches in length and I 70 to 1'85 in breadth." 



Morris, who gives a longer note on the nidification of the Red- 

 breasted Merganser than on that of most ducks, observes : — 



" These birds iiuild, it seems, on the borders of, and small islands 

 in, lakes, whether of fresh or salt water, and rivers, preferring such 

 as have a growth of wood, the nests being placed a few yards from 

 the edge, at the foot of a tree, or under the shelter of brushwood, 

 in the midst of grass, fern, nettles, or other wild vegetation. Also 

 in divers other situations, among stones in a hollow, on the bare 

 ground, at the top of a tall tree, or in the deserted nest of some 

 other bird, or in the end of a deep recess. It has been known, 

 moreover, in a bleak and unsheltered situation, on an island in the 

 sea, at some distance from the mainland. The materials of its 

 composition are moss, flags, stalks, grass, small roots, and feathers, 

 placed carelessly together, and intermixed with down of the bird, 

 added to, it appears, as incubation advances. 



