Duck-shooting 195 



Yoitng male — Similar to female ; chin and throat, pale reddish ; lower 

 neck and upper part of breast, brownish ; white space on wing 

 marked by a black bar. 



Dowtiy young — Upper parts, top of head and neck, brown; sides 

 of head and neck, rusty ; lower parts, yellowish white, and a 

 white patch on each side of back and rump. 



Eggs — Eight to twelve in number, creamy buff, and measure 2.55 

 by 1.80 inches. 



Habitat — Northern portion of northern hemisphere. Breeds in 

 North America from Sable Island, Maine, Ontario, Michigan, 

 Minnesota, Illinois, Manitoba, Alberta, Utah, probably Idaho, 

 and British Columbia, north to the Aleutians, the western and 

 Arctic Coast of Alaska, Fort Anderson, Cumberland, and Green- 

 land south of 73°, chiefly near the coast or on large lakes. 

 Winters in south Greenland and the Commander Islands, and 

 in the United States chiefly along the coast, from Maine, Ohio, 

 Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Colorado, Nevada, and Washing- 

 ton, south to Lower California, Louisiana, and Florida. Occurs 

 also in Bermuda and Hawaii. 



The range of this bird is wide ; it is found along 

 both coasts from the Arctic regions to the south- 

 ern hmits of the United States, and rather prefers 

 shore resorts to those inland. The red-breasted 

 merganser breeds from our northern boundary to 

 Alaska and Hudson Bay. It is common as far 

 north as the Aleutian Islands, and the natives 

 here consider the rank and fishy flavor of its flesh 

 a delicacy. The nest is placed in the marshes 

 near the coast on the islands or mainland, care- 

 fully hidden on the ground among the rushes and 

 reeds. The eggs are well covered up with down. 

 We see the little ducklings in July, and if sur- 

 prised they quickly hide, perhaps betraying their 



