On Mountain and Locli. loi 



explore not a few of these charming Highland fiords, 

 to dwell beside them for weeks at a time, and thus 

 become familiar with the birds upon them and with 

 their most engaging ways. One of the most familiar 

 birds of these Highland lochs is the Red -breasted 

 Merganser, known throughout these localities as the 

 " Sawbill " (conf. p. 96). The drake is a very pretty 

 bird, the duck more soberly arrayed, yet both easily 

 identified by their long narrow bill. They are generally 

 met with in pairs during summer, and their actions 

 in the water furnish us with many an hour's amuse- 

 ment. This Merganser is a most expert diver, and 

 every few moments either one or the other of the pair 

 disappears in quest of food. Rarely or never do 

 both birds dive at the same time, one always keep- 

 ing on the surface as if on the look-out. Sometimes, 

 however, the birds will suddenly commence to chase 

 each other through the water in sportive play, and 

 then both may dive, churning the water into foam. 

 When fishing, the birds frequently, after diving, stand 

 erect in the water and flap their wings vigorously for 

 a few moments. These birds are very regular in 

 their movements, especially on tidal water, and we 

 have frequently remarked how they would visit cer- 

 tain spots to feed at low water, flying up at great 

 speed from different parts of the loch, their wings 

 making a peculiar whistling sound as they hurried 

 along. Sometimes they may be seen standing on 



