DUCK-LIKE DIVING BIRDS. 227 



Nest. — Lined with drab-coloured down from the 

 bird, and placed under cover of rocks, or among rough 

 herbage on the borders of loch and lough, or on the 

 seaboard. 



The Red-Breasted Merganser is known as a breeding 

 species in the north and west of Scotland, and in 

 Ireland, frequenting for that purpose inland lakes 

 and estuaries, as well as the seacoasts. In winter 

 it visits the English coasts, but seldom goes inland. 

 It is formed more slimly than is usual with Ducks, 

 both the bill and the neck being slender, and the 

 bird's habit of swimming with the body half- 

 submerged adds to this effect. The feet, set far back, 

 point to more than ordinary swimming and diving 

 powers, which are amply demonstrated when the bird 

 remains under water for half-a-minute at a time to 

 pursue the fish upon which it mainly subsists. Its 

 unusual swimming and diving powers are ample 

 compensation for the awkward gait with which it 

 walks about in the shallows searching for molluscs. 

 It is usually seen in small parties, being of a sociable 

 disposition, 



GOOSANDER — 26 inches ; chest white ; no ornamental 

 patch of black-bordered white feathers at the bend of 

 the wing. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE— 21 inches ; conspicuous divided 

 crest ; ruflfed-out tippet at the throat ; face white. 



SMEW.— Plate 99. 17 inches. Head, neck, and 

 under parts white, but patch behind base of bill, the 

 hind-part of crest, and a band on each side of the 



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