RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 289 



resembling that of the Eider Duck. It contained nine eggs, 

 of a rich reddish-yellow, or fawn colour. The bird was re- 

 markably tame, sitting until nearly taken with a small hand- 

 net. Sir W. Jardine very kindly sent me one of these eggs 

 for my collection ; it measured two inches and a half in 

 length, and one inch and three quarters in breadth. The 

 males leave the females as soon as incubation commences. 

 Mr. J. Macgillivray, who visited the outer Hebrides in the 

 summer of 1840, says, that a few remain there during the 

 breeding-season, and he took a nest with eggs on a small 

 island between Killigray and Ob, in the sound of Harris. 

 Pennant mentions that the Red-breasted Merganser had been 

 found breeding at Loch Maree in Ross-shire ; and Mr. Selby, 

 when with a party exploring Sutherlandshire, in June 1834, 

 says, it was very plentiful upon all the loclis, but only a few 

 at that time had commenced incubation. 



Mr. Robert Dunn, in his " Ornithologisfs Guide to the 

 Islands of Orkney and Shetland," says, this wary bird is very 

 plentiful in both countries, and is a constant resident ; it is 

 extremely shy at all times. In the summer season the male 

 loses his beautiful plumage, and approaches in colour to that 

 of the feniale. This bird is seldom seen far from land, but 

 frequents the inlets and inland lakes. 



Mr. Hewitson, during his trip to the west coast of Nor- 

 way, observed that the Red-breasted Merganser was frequent 

 upon most of the lakes and rivers ; the eggs were laid under 

 shelter, either upon their margins or their numerous woody 

 islands. Richard Dann, Esq. sent me word that the Mer- 

 ganser is far more numerously spread over Norway and 

 Sweden than the Goosander ; it breeds on all the coasts, 

 and is also found in the Dofre Fiell and Lapland mountains 

 as high as the birch grows. This species is found in Iceland 

 and at the Faroe Islands ; in Russia, and on the great rivers 

 of Siberia and Lake Baikal. Its food is fish, obtained by 



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