The Mergansers. 409 



In addition to the sites mentioned 

 above, this species is said to breed also 

 in holes of trees like the Goosander. 



The Red-breasted Merganser nests in 

 May or June, and lays as many as twelve 

 eggs. The eggs are not unlike those 

 of the Goosander, but are smaller and 

 generally of a darker creamy-buff colour, 

 often slightly tinged with green. They 

 measure from 2-4 to 2*8 in length, and 

 from 1*6 to 1*85 in breadth. 



The adult male has the whole head, 

 crest and upper neck deep, glossy black. 

 The lower neck is white, with a black 

 longitudinal band on the hinder part. 

 The chest and the sides of the mantle are 

 rufous, streaked w^th black. The lower 

 plumage is pure white, except the sides 

 of the body, which are vermiculated with 

 black. The axillaries are white, and the 

 under wing-coverts largely so. The middle 

 portion of the lower hindneck, the mantle, 

 the back and all the long inner scapulars 

 are deep black. The lateral feathers of 

 the back, near the junction of the wing 

 with the body, are much lengthened and 

 have the central portion pure white. The 

 outer scapulars are white. The rump and 

 the upper tail-coverts are vermiculated 

 with ashy grey and black. The tail is 



