332 



ANATID^ : SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator L. 



Chars. Nostrils sub-basal : frontal feathers not reaching beyond 

 those on sides of bill ; a long, thin, pointed crest in both sexes. 

 Smaller than the foregoing ; wing, 8.00-9.00. General coloration 

 and sexual differences the same, but male with the jugulum and 

 forebreast rich reddish-brown streaked Avith black ; sides of the 

 body conspicuously and finely waved with black ; a white, black- 

 bordered mark in front of the wing, which is crossed by two 

 black bars. 



Fig. 72. — Red-breasted Merganser, with Outline of Bill from above. 



This is the commonest one of the three, especially 

 along the coast. The figure represents the bill of natural 

 size, and shows the sub-basal position of the nostrils, 

 which are more median in M. mevQ-anscr. The nest 

 is placed on the ground ; carefully concealed in rank 

 herbage ; it is neatly constructed of mosses, lichens, hay 

 and seaweeds, and warmly lined with down from the 

 parent's breast. The eggs are some nine or ten in 

 number, of a fine creamy buff color, oval or ellipsoidal, 

 measuring about 2.50 X 1.65. 



