182 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



found in Ireland, during summer. In Central Eu- 

 rope it occurs in winter sparingly as in this country, 

 but breeds and is abundant in Northern Europe. 

 Japanese specimens, by Temminck are said to be 

 identical with those from other countries, and it is 

 well known to the ornithologists of North America. 



In a specimen procured from the Orkney seas 

 during winter, we have the head and neck greenish 

 black, mingled with a few reddish brown feathers ; 

 the occiput adorned with a long loose crest ; the 

 chin yellowish white ; the lower neck and upper 

 breast reddish brown, paler and more mixed with 

 white where it is joined with the greenish black 

 of the head ; the back, sides of the breast, scapu- 

 lars and quills, black ; the lower part of the back, 

 rump, tail and flanks grey, the latter with nar- 

 row irregular bars of black ; the breast, belly and 

 vent, pure white ; the greater wing-covers and 

 secondaries white, each with a black base which 

 forms a double bar across the wing; the tertials 

 white with a narrow edging of black, but a most 

 conspicuous marking is seen in a few rather large 

 feathers which spring from each side of the breast 

 above the bend of the w T ing, and over which, while 

 the bird is at rest, they fold, these are pure white 

 with a margin all round of deep black. During the 

 breeding season the colours are more vivid and more 

 distinctly marked, the reddish brown or chestnut 

 on the sides of the breast is deeper, and the head 

 and crest are entirely glossy blackish green. 



The female somewhat resembles theDundiver; one 



