526 ANATID^. 



flavour prevents it from passing muster as a Duck. Of its 

 nesting little or nothing is known. In the north of Devon 

 it is called, according to Montagu, " Vare Wigeon," from 

 the supposed resemblance of its head to that of a " vare " 

 or weasel. I have also heard it called the "Weasel Duck" 

 in Xorfolk, 



v. 



THE HOODED MERGANSER. 



MERGUS CUCULLATUS. 



\ 



Head and upper part of the neck black ; head ornamented with a semi- 

 circular crest, of which the half behind the eyes is wliite, edged with black ; 

 back black ; wings brown and white ; under plumage white, with two crescent- 

 shaped marks as in the last ; bill and feet dull red. Length eighteen inches. 

 Female smaller; crown reddish brown; upper plumage dark brown. Eggs 

 Avhite. 



An American species, of which only a very few stray 

 specimens have been observed in this country. x\n 

 interesting account of this species, quoted from Audubon, 

 wdll be found in Yarrell's " British Birds," vol. iii. 

 p. 384, &c. 



THE RED-BREASTED jVIERGANSER. 



MERGUS SERRATOR. 



Head, crest, and neck black, with greenish retlections ; a white collar round the 

 neck ; breast reddish brown, spotted with black ; near tlie insertion of the wing 

 several white spots, edged with black ; speculum white, divided by two 

 transverse black bars ; back black ; belly white, barred on the flanks and 

 rump with wavy grey lines ; bill and irides red ; feet orange. Length twenty- 

 two inches. Female smaller ; head and crest reddish brown ; breast mottled 

 with ash and white ; upper plumage and flanks deep ash-colour ; speculum 

 with one black bar ; bill and feet dull wrange ; irides brown. Eggs 

 wliitish ash. 



This large and handsome bird is not uncommon in the 

 estuaries and rivers of Great Britain, but is most frequent 

 in the north. The adult male is less frequently seen than 

 females and young males, wliich closely resemble one 



