RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 631 



but in more northern localities it is somewhat later, the first eggs not 

 being laid until the end of June. In Scandinavia it breeds nmch further 

 from the sea than in Scotland, choosing localities well surrounded with 

 trees. It always likes to make its nest on an island, wherever it is possible, 

 and only breeds on the mainland in secluded districts. It prefers to make 

 its nest under shelter of some kind, sometimes under a large rock. Saxby 

 says that it uses rabbit-burrows and the crevices in walls ; he also states 

 that a favourite situation is in a hollow at the foot of a dry bank where 

 the herbage overhangs and completely conceals it. Sometimes the nest is 

 made amongst long grass or heath, and in most cases is very slight, 

 usually a small hollow in the ground, lined with green and dry grass, 

 sprays of heather, and dead leaves. As the clutch of eggs is completed 

 the female lines her nest with down plucked from her body. In some 

 cases no nest is formed, the down being the only bed, so that the first t\vo 

 or three eggs that are laid rest on the cold ground. Although it does not 

 breed in colonies, numbers of the nests of this bird may be found rather 

 close together. Two or three are often built on one small island. Perhaps 

 the scarcity of suitable sites, rather than any sociable instinct, is the 

 cause. 



The eggs of the Red-breasted Merganser are usually from six to nine 

 in number, but occasionally as many as twelve are laid. They are of a 

 more or less olive-grey colour, sometimes as dark as a pale egg of the 

 Pheasant, but never quite reaching the cream- colour of the eggs of the 

 Goosander, are somewhat smooth in grain, rather glossy, and they vary in 

 length from 2'8 to 2'4 inch, and in breadth from 1'85 to 1'6 inch. The 

 down is about the same size as that of the Mallard, but is pale brownish 

 grey, with obscure pale tips and somewhat indistinct pale centres. The 

 pale colour of the down prevents any confusion between these eggs and 

 those of the Pochard and the Scaup, although the former are generally 

 smaller arid greener, whilst the latter, though not differing much in size, 

 are usually darker. 



The Red-breasted Merganser sits very closely, often allowing herself to 

 be nearly trod on ere she leaves her eggs. Only one brood is reared in 

 the year, but if the first eggs are removed others are usually laid to replace 

 them. Very shortly after the young are hatched the female leads them to 

 the water, where they swim and dive with great dexterity. The drake 

 takes no share in family duties : like most of the other Ducks, as soon as 

 the female begins to sit he evinces very little anxiety for her or the nest. 

 In winter Red-breasted Mergansers gather into flocks and continue gre- 

 garious until spring. 



My friend the late Mr. Charles Doncaster found seven nests, containing 

 respectively two, six, seven, seven, eight, nine, and twelve eggs, on a couple 

 of islands on the Inverness coast. Some of the nests were in the long 



