300 THE SAWBILLED-DUCKS 



these birds is almost insatiable. Mr. F. Finn tested a captive bird 

 of the Central Asiatic race, and found that it actually devoured no 

 fewer than forty fish, about 2 inches long, at a meal ! In another 

 case fourteen fish were taken from the crop of one male, and Sir R. 

 Payne-Gallwey states that he took a trout of 7 inches in length, 

 and found the partially digested remains of two other fish of similar 

 size in the same bird. Needless to say, they are not welcomed on 

 salmon and trout streams in consequence. When wounded or 

 alarmed they will often throw up recently swallowed fish, and Booth 

 relates that after a shot at a number of these birds on Heigham 

 Sounds, scores of small rudd and roach were found on the surface 

 where the flock had been resting. 1 After a fish has been captured it 

 is always brought to the surface to be swallowed ; then the bird usually 

 drinks and stretches its neck several times. 



The ordinary note of this species is a harsh guttural quack, which 

 is generally written " karrr." Booth heard a low plaintive whistle from 

 a duck with young, but was unable to find out from which the sound 

 came. This is probably the " half-hiss, half- whistle " which Stuart Baker 

 heard from the female, who also makes a hissing noise when surprised 

 on the nest. 



THE REDBREASTED-MERGANSER 



The redbreasted-merganser is far more marine in its habits than 

 the goosander. Even in the breeding season many ducks may be 

 found nesting on islets in the sea-lochs and firths of Scotland, and 

 during the winter months it is generally to be met with round the 

 coast, and even when feeding in the estuaries, almost always returns 

 to the sea to spend the night. Like the goosander it feeds by day, 

 and even before dawn may be dimly discerned rapidly winging its way 

 up the course of the river to its feeding-grounds. Although at times 



1 Rough Notes, vol. iii. 



