The Mergansers. 391 



This Duck has been observed in so many 

 localities in the plains that it is unneces- 

 sary to trace its distribution in any great 

 detail, and I propose to indicate only a few 

 points which may be considered, so far as 

 we know at present, its southern limits. 



The bird, said to be of this species, 

 which was procured by Mr. E. H. Aitken 

 in the Bombay harbour, from the fact 

 that it was found on salt water, was 

 presumably a Red-breasted Merganser. 

 Omitting Bombay, therefore, from con- 

 sideration, and commencing on the west, 

 we find this bird recorded from Dera 

 Ismail Khan and next from Ajmere. In 

 the Central Provinces it has been obtained 

 as far south as Raipur and Sambulpur. 

 It is fairly common in Chutia Nagpur as 

 far down as Singbhum, and it has been 

 observed in Bengal at Bancura and 

 Bardwan, not very far north of Calcutta. 

 This species is found throughout Assam 

 and the mountain streams of the ranges 

 of hills extending to Sylhet and Cachar, 

 and it is very abundant in the upper 

 reaches of the Irrawaddy river from Sinbo 

 to Myitkyina. 



In the Himalayas this species is found 

 in summer at elevations above 10,000 

 feet, In winter it comes down to below 



