160 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



inner lining of feathers. The whole is very loosely 

 put together, and I have met with specimens with 

 no feathers at all, and but very few hay straws 

 whereon the eggs were laid. 



Eggs. Four to live, seldom six ; pure white 

 when blown. The shell is so thin and semi- 

 transparent that the yolk shows through and gives 

 the egg a pinky tinge. Size about *7 by *48 in. 



Time. May, June, and July. 



Remarks. Migratory, arriving in this country 

 in March and April, and leaving in September and 

 October. Call-notes loud and harsh, something 

 like share, according to Nauman, but very difficult 

 to represent in letters. Local and other names : 

 Pit Martin, Land Swallow, Bank Swallow, Kiver 

 Swallow, Bank Martin. Gregarious. Sits closely. 



MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 twenty-two inches. Bill rather long, sharp, straight, 

 and red, except the upper part, which is brownish. 

 Irides red. Head and a little of the upper part of 

 the neck glossy green, the feathers on 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 bro\^nish-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 



