4I2 NORTHERN EUROPE 



rapidity of a fish. In flight the wings are noticeably long, the bird descending 

 with a swoop and diving as it settles. Unlike most ducks, it dives when shot and 

 • lies under water. In length the goosander is 26 inches: the head is brilliant 

 greenish black, the fore part of the back and shoulders jet black, the lower part of 

 the back and tail grey, the primaries mostly black, and the rest of the plumage 

 huffish white : the beak is deep red, with a black nail, the eyes are brownish red 

 and the feet bright red. 



The red-breasted merganser (M. sarrator) inhabits the same countries as the 

 goosander, and nests up to 70° N. latitude, its breeding-area being circumpolar. It 

 is resident in Scotland and Ireland, in eastern Holstein, and among the lakes that 

 skirt the southern coast of the Baltic. The nest — a mere hollow lined with down 

 and seldom anything else — is generally well hidden and often approached by a 

 tunnel through the herbage : occasionally it is in a rabbit-burrow. The eggs are 

 olive in colour with a slight tinge of green, and from six to twelve in number. 

 The young take to the water at once under the guidance of their mother, the male 

 bird accompanying them at a short distance to give warning of approaching 

 danger and then hurrying off, leaving his family to shift for themselves. The red- 

 breasted merganser is 24 inches long, the male being distinguished from the female 

 by having two bars in the speculum instead of one. The head is greenish black 

 with a drooping crest, the breast reddish brown spotted and variegated with black, 

 and the lower part of the back white, instead of grey as in the goosander. 



Among the swans, the so-called mute species (Gyqnus olor) 



Sw3,ns 



is really indigenous to northern Europe, though it breeds so far 



south as the lower Danube. Living on open sheets of water in which there are 



islands with plenty of reeds and flags, this swan never places its nest amid 



plants, but on some spot affording a wide view, generally a small island. The 



nest, which is perhaps a yard or more across, is a bulky mass of sticks, roots, 



and reeds, and is used year after year, the greenish white eggs varying from 



as few as three to (rarely) as many as twelve in number. They are laid in 



April or May, their incubation being undertaken only by the female although the 



male is always on guard. In from thirty-four to thirty-six days the grey downy 



cygnets are hatched. On the first day these remain in the nest sheltered by their 



mother, but on the second they are taken out on the water, and continue under 



the care of their parents until fully fledged, feeding at first on small aquatic 



creatures, and soft vegetable matter such as the roots of reeds. Adult swans are 



principally vegetable-feeders, although now and then they may devour a small fish, 



lizard, mollusc, worm, or water-insect, caught by accident. They prefer the roots 



and seeds of water-plants and feed under water. Swans swim by turns slowly and 



softly, or quickly and powerfully, generally with half-raised wings ; they fly high 



and vigorously with their necks stretched straight out, the wings giving an audible 



swish at each stroke. No bird dare attack them in the air or on the water, and 



they do not even fear a dog, when they have to defend their brood. Their strong 



wings serve as weapon and shield at the same time. Male swans occasionally fight 



fiercely with each other, clutching one another at their breasts, entwining their necks 



together, and beating each other furiously with their wings, until one is conquered, 



when the victor often presses the head of the vanquished under the water till the 



