3 2 4 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



down at the tip, furnished with sharp sawlike 

 edges, and is therefore well adapted for seizing 

 the small fish upon which it feeds. In length it 

 measures from twenty-two to twenty-four inches. 

 The plumage is as follows : Bill red ; legs and 

 feet orange ; head and neck black, with a long 

 black crest or plume ; back black ; white collar 

 round the neck ; wings with a great deal of white 

 on them ; at the shoulder of the wing several 

 white feathers, edged with black ; lower part of 

 the neck saffron colour, ermined with black ; under 

 parts white. The female is smaller than the 

 male ; the head and neck of a red-brown colour ; 

 wings white, with a black bar across them. The 

 merganser is more or less frequent on all of 

 our coasts, large lakes, and also in Ireland. 

 It breeds in some parts of Scotland. In hard 

 winters it is by no means uncommon, at such 

 times congregating in large flocks. The male 

 bird changes its plumage during the breeding 

 season. Dixon thus refers to this bird : ' What- 

 ever food is secured under the water is always 

 brought up to the surface to be swallowed, and 

 usually, as soon as it has disposed of its capture, 

 the bird drinks, and rises half out of the water, 

 and flaps its wings. The red-breasted merganser 

 lives entirely on animal substances.' And again ; 

 1 A favourite haunt of the red-breasted merganser, 

 abounding with its food, is where the trout-stream 

 from the distant hills falls into the loch.' The 

 merganser is a handsome and interesting bird,. 



