630 BRITISH BIRDS. 



drake keep close company, swimming side by side up the rocky shores or 

 flying together swiftly over the surface of the water. It is a pretty sight 

 to see a pair of these beautiful birds daintily paddling in the bright clear 

 water, exploring the large half-submerged rocks, now swimming close 

 in-shore, then diving and reappearing at some distance from the land. The 

 drake often toys with or chases his mate ; sometimes they dive, apparently 

 for amusement, turning the still water into bubbles and foam. Often the 

 male bird sits quietly on the water under the lee of a projecting rock, his 

 bright plumage contrasting vividly with the deej) brown of the seaweed 

 and the blue of the surrounding sea. They are remarkably wary birds ; 

 and either swim quickly out from shore when menaced by danger, or dive 

 at once, and reappear at some considerable distance. More rarely they 

 rise into the air and on rapid wing soon reach a place of safety. 



The Red-breasted Merganser obtains most of its food from the water. 

 When feeding in shallow water it keeps the head almost constantly sub- 

 merged, poking its bill amongst the seaweed growing over the rocks. It 

 is a remarkably expert diver, and often remains under water for a con- 

 siderable time. It dives in a very similar manner to the Shag, raising its 

 body and plunging head downwards into the water. It uses its wings as 

 ■well as its feet in its progress under the water. If it sees a fish at the 

 bottom it suddenly darts down and secures it, and at once brings it to the 

 surface. Fish are always brought up to be swalloAvcd as soon as they are 

 captured; and after eating them the bird raises itself partly out of the 

 water, flaps its wings, and usually drinks. After heavy rains it often 

 explores the mouths of the trout-streams to prey upon the small fish that 

 have been carried down by the torrent. In stormy weather in summer it 

 seeks shelter in some secluded creek or inlet. In these places numbers of 

 birds congregate, but as soon as the storm is over they disperse again. 

 The flight of the Red-breasted Merganser is quick and powerful, the wings 

 being moved very rapidly, and making a distinct whistling noise. The 

 bird does not usually fly very high, as a rule just above the surface of the 

 water; but if seriously alarmed it sometimes mounts up into the air for a 

 considerable distance. It usually rises from the water with a considerable 

 splash, beating the surface with its feet and wings ; but it is capable of 

 flying up direct either from the sea or the land. It swims very gracefully, 

 but sits rather low in the water. 



The food of the Red-breasted Merganser is composed of small fish^ 

 crustaceans, mollusks, and probably shell-fish; but it docs not appear ever 

 to eat any vegetable matter. Gray noticed that a bird he shot had been 

 feeding on small black eels. The note of the Red-breasted Merganser is 

 very similar to that of the Goosander. 



In Scotland the breeding-season commences in May, the eggs usually 

 being laid from the middle of that month till the middle or end of June ; 



