250 WATER FOWL. 



ber, are a fawn, or bright cream color. The young are 

 very active, follow the female on the water, and scurry 

 away at the least alarm in the manner already described 

 of the young of the Goosander. The Red-breasted 

 Merganser flies with great rapidity and makes very little 

 noise with its wings, and I have had it approach when I 

 was in a blind, so quietly that its appearance, in front of 

 me and close to the bank, would be the first intimation 

 given that any were in the vicinity. When startled or 

 alarmed, either while flying or swimming, they are in the 

 habit of uttering several low, guttural croaks, resembling 

 in no way the quack of a Duck, and, if on the water, they 

 dive quickly and sometimes remain beneath the surface 

 for a long time, appearing in quite a different place from 

 that expected. They seem to be very observant, and 

 frequently I have noticed a small flock, passing rapidly 

 along the shore, suddenly turn and retrace their way and 

 alight with a splash, and immediately dive and commence 

 to feed. It would seem that the birds must have seen a 

 school of small fish as they flew by, and returned to take 

 advantage of their presence. 



When swimming along both sexes are accustomed to 

 elevate and depress the long occipital crest, giving them 

 alternately a trustful and wild appearance. This species 

 feeds entirely on fish, and the flesh consequently is rank 

 and of a very disagreeable flavor. When engaged in 

 fishing, by their rapid diving and maneuvering beneath 

 the waters, they cause the small fish — if the schools are 

 of any size — to become w'idely scattered, and many rise 

 close to the surface. The Gulls take advantage of such 

 opportunities, and pounce upon their luckless finny prey 

 from above, and then, with Ducks diving into the depths 

 and Gulls plunging from above, the scene is a very lively 

 one. I remember on one occasion watching a number 



