Species II. MERGUS SERRATOR. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



[Plate LXIX. Fig. 2 ] 



UHarU hupp4e, Briss. vi., p. 237, 2, pi. 23.— Buff, viii., p. 27Z.—PI. Enl. 207.— 

 Beivick, II., p. 23.5, Edw. pi. 95. — Lath. Syn. iii., p. 432. 



This is much more common in our fresh waters than either of the 

 preceding, and is frequently brought to the Philadelphia market from 

 the shores of the Delaware. It is an inhabitant of both continents. 

 In the United States it is generally migratory ; though a few are occa- 

 sionally seen in autumn, but none of their nests have as yet come under 

 my notice. They also frequent the seashore, keeping within the bays 

 and estuaries of rivers. They swim low in the water, and when wounded 

 in the wing, very dexterously contrive to elude the sportsman or his 

 dog, by diving and coming up at a great distance, raising the bill only, 

 above water, and dipping down again with the greatest silence. The 

 young males of a year .old are often found in the plumage of the female ; 

 their food consists of small fry, and various kinds of shell fish. 



The Red-Breasted Merganser is said by Pennant to breed on Loch 

 Mari in the county of Ross, in North Britain ; and also in the Isle of 

 Hay. Latham informs us that it inhabits most parts of the north of 

 Europe on the continent, and as high as Iceland ; also in the Russian 

 dominions about the great rivers of Siberia, and the Lake Baikal. Is 

 said to be frequent in Greenland, where it breeds on the shores. The 

 inhabitants often take it by darts thrown at it, especially in August, 

 being then in moult. At Hudson's Bay, according to Hutchins, they 

 come in pairs about the beginning of June, as soon as the ice breaks up, 

 and build soon after their arrival, chiefly on dry spots of ground in the 

 islands ; lay from eight to thirteen white eggs, the size of those of a duck ; 

 the nest is made of withered grass, and lined with the down of the 

 breast. The young are of a dirty brown like young goslins. In Octo- 

 ber they all depart southward to the lakes, where they may have open 

 water. 



This species is twenty-two inches in length, and thirty-two in extent ; 

 the bill is two inches and three-quarters in length, of the color of bright 

 sealing-wax, ridged above with dusky ; the nail at the tip large, blackish, 



(56) 



