SPECIES 2. MERGUS SERRATOR. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 







[Plate LXIX. Fig. 2.] 



L'Harle huppe, BRISS. vi, p. 237. 2. pi. 23. BUFF, vin, p. 273. 

 PL Enl. 207. BEWICK, u,p. 235. EDW.^.95.LATH. %w. 

 in, p. 432. PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 2936. 



THIS is much more common in our fresh waters than either 

 of the preceding, and is frequently brought to the Philadelphia 

 market from the shores of the Delaware. It is an inhabitant of 

 both continents. In the United States it is generally migratory; 

 though a few are occasionally seen in autumn, but none of their 

 nests have as yet come under my notice. They also frequent 

 the seashore, keeping within the bays and estuaries of rivers. 

 They swim low in the water, and when wounded in the wing, 

 very dexterously contrive to elude the sportsman or his dog, 

 by diving and coming up at a great distance, raising the bill 

 only, above water, and dipping down again with the greatest 

 silence. The young males of a year old are often found in the 

 plumage of the female; their food consists of small fry, and va- 

 rious kinds of shell fish. 



The Red-Breasted Merganser is said by Pennant to breed on 

 Loch Mari in the county of Ross, in North Britain; and also 

 in the isle of Hay. Latham informs us that it inhabits most parts 

 of the north of Europe on the continent, and as high as Iceland; 

 also in the Russian dominions about the great rivers of Siberia, 

 and the lake Baikal. Is said to be frequent in Greenland, where 

 it breeds on the shores. The inhabitants often take it by darts 

 thrown at it, especially in August, being then in moult. At 

 Hudson's Bay, according to Hutchins, they come in pairs about 

 the beginning of June, as soon as the ice breaks up, and build 



