222 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



like share, according to Nauman, but very difficult 

 to represent in letters. Local and other names : 

 Pit Martin, Land Swallow, Bank Swallow, River 

 Swallow, Bank Martin. Gregarious. Sits closely. 



MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED. 



(Mergus serrator.) 

 Order ANSERES ; Family ANATID^E (DUCKS). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds . Length about 

 twenty- two inches. Bill 

 rather long, sharp, 

 straight, and red, ex- 

 cept the upper part, 

 which is brownish. 

 Irides red. Head and 

 a little of the upper 

 part of the neck glossy 

 green, the feathers on 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER ON NEST. ,, , , , , , , _ 



the back of the head 



being lengthened. A line of black runs from the 

 back of the head down behind the neck to 

 the upper part of the back, which is also black ; 

 lower part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts 

 grey. Tail-quills brownish-grey. Wings a mixture 

 of dark brown, white and black on the upper parts ; 

 primaries brownish-black ; middle half of sides 

 of neck white ; breast rusty-red, spotted with black 

 on the front ; on the sides, in front of wing-points 

 or shoulders, are a few white feathers edged broadly 

 with black. Breast, belly, and under tail-coverts 

 white. Legs, toes, and webs deep orange, tinged 

 with brown ; claws black. At the latter end of 



