224 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



May the head and neck turn from glossy green to 

 dull brown, and the rusty-red on the breast dis- 

 appears. 



The female is slightly smaller ; her head, neck, 

 and the whole of her upper-parts are of varying 

 shades of brown, with two white bars on the wings. 

 Front of neck white, mottled with light reddish- 

 brown ; under-parts white. Both sexes subject to 

 variation of colour. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, under 

 bushes, banks, projecting ledges of rock ; amongst 



YOUNG RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. 



heather and brambles ; occasionally in holes in 

 trees, in rabbit-holes, holes and crevices of rocks ; 

 on small islands in lakes, on the shores of lakes, 

 generally not far from the water. In the north 

 of Scotland, Orkneys, Shetlands, Hebrides, and in 

 Ireland. Our illustrations were procured in the 

 Highlands, where I have upon occasion found as 

 many as three nests within thirty yards of each 

 other on a small island. 



Materials. -Dead grass, roots, and rushes, in 

 scanty quantities, lined with tufts of down from 



