THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator. 

 PLATE X. 



Mergus serrator, Linn. Le Harle Huppe, Tenvm. Red- 

 breasted Merganser of British authors. 



Tins species is a winter visitant to the shores of 

 England and south of Scotland, and appears at that 

 season more maritime in its habits than the last ; in 

 the south of Scotland it does not ascend rivers regu- 

 larly like the last, nor is it nearly so common in 

 winter, and the specimens which we have procured 

 have been generally from the sea or its vicinity ; its 

 breeding range is how T ever more extended, for it in- 

 cubates by the margins or on the islands of most 

 of the more retired Highland lochs, and towards the 

 north is by no means uncommon. The nest we 

 have generally found placed among brush-wood, a 

 few yards from the water, with a beaten run to it ; 

 it is warmly constructed with the down of the bird. 

 When the female commences sitting, she is left by 

 the drake, which retires and completes its moult, 

 after having assumed a somewhat duck-like appear- 

 ance. 



On the authority of Mr. Thompson, it is also 



