ANATID/T-: 



461 



THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator, Linn?eus. 



The Red-breasted Merganser is generally distributed during the 

 winter along the shores of P^ngland, but is less partial than the 

 Goosander to inland waters, though sometimes observed far up 

 tidal rivers. In Scotland it is resident, and breeds in considerable 

 numbers on the lochs as well as on the coasts of the northern and 

 western districts of the mainland, especially in Ross and Suther- 

 land ; while it is equally abundant in the Hebrides, though less 

 frequent in the Orkneys and Shetlands. In Ireland, where it is 

 known as ' Sheld-Duck,' and occasionally as ' Spear-Wigeon,' from 

 the sharp serrated bill, it nests regularly on most of the large 

 loughs, and in many localities along the sea-board ; becoming much 

 more plentiful in severe weather, when hundreds have sometimes 

 been seen together. 



This species breeds in the Freroes, Iceland, Greenland, Scandi- 

 navia, Northern Russia, and — 'Sparingly — on the islands of the 

 Baltic, as well as along its southern shore. In winter it visits the 

 lakes and large rivers of the Continent, though less plentiful there 

 than the Goosander ; but on the coasts it is more numerous, and it 

 is by no means rare throughout the Mediterranean ; its migrations 



