482 THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



"who," according to Dr. Samuel Odman, "consider soup 

 prepared from it as very delicious." 



The Red-breasted Merganser, or Saw-bill (Sma-Skrake, 

 Sw. ; M. Serrator, Linn.), was pretty common in the vicinity 

 of Ronnum, where a pair or two bred. It was much more 

 common, however, in our Skargard, where it remains as well 

 during summer as winter, until such time at least as the 

 sea becomes frozen over ; and even then some are still to be 

 seen in natural openings in the ice. It is also common 

 throughout the length and breadth of Scandinavia, from 

 Scania to northern Lapland ; and it nests both in the interior 

 and on the coast. Some, no doubt, migrate, but many 

 remain in the more southern parts of the peninsula all the 

 year round. It is common in Denmark during the winter 

 time and breeds, though somewhat sparingly as it would 

 seem, in that country. 



Ekstrom, when speaking of the birds frequenting the 

 eastern coast of Sweden, says, " the saw-bill is the best of 

 barometers ; if, during a partial thaw in the winter it reap- 

 pears, one may be very sure there will be no more severe 

 frost that year." 



As with the goosander, this bird feeds chiefly on fish, 

 more especially on young eels, viviparous blennys, gunnels, 

 and others with smooth and slimy skins; to seize hold of 

 and retain which, its pointed, saw-like bill would seem to be 

 specially intended. 



It breeds at a later period in the spring than the goosander, 

 and never makes its nest, in like manner with that bird, in 

 the hollow of a tree ; but on the ground, and under a stone, 

 or amongst thick grass. It was in such situations, at least, 

 that we used to find it in the Skargard. The female lays 



