102 RED-BKEASTED MEBQAIfSEB. 



In Ireland specimens have been obtained in Meath and 

 other parts. There also the birds are indigenous. 



They come to us in winter, 'when the winds whistle cold' 

 and even the hardiest sea-birds are glad to betake themselves 

 to comparative shelter. 



These birds are extremely shy and wary, especially during 

 the breeding-season. They go in flocks. They too have the 

 power of submerging the whole body in a gentle and im- 

 perceptible manner, the bill only being kept out. 



They swim and dive with the greatest expertness, and are 

 able, it is said, to remain two minutes under the water, 

 making rapid progress beneath the surface. They can walk 

 fast, but are ungraceful in their movements. They fly in a 

 buoyant and easy manner. 



Their food is chiefly made of small fish, but also of beetles 

 and water insects and their larvae, worms, and frogs. 



The note sounds most like the words 'curr, curr.' 



The places chosen by this species for nesting, are the 

 vicinage of the sea, and the neighbourhood of lakes and rivers, 

 among reeds and rushes. 



Male; weight, two pounds; length, one foot nine or ten 

 inches. The upper bill, which is closely serrated, is dark 

 orange reddish brown, the edges brighter; the under bill red; 

 the tooth, horn-colour; iris, red. The head, and crown, 

 which has the feathers loose, webbed, and elongated, and the 

 neck all round on the upper part, dark shining greenish 

 black, changing in different lights from glossy violet black 

 to a beautiful gilded green; down the back of the neck and 

 the nape descends a narrow line of glossy black; the 

 remainder of the neck all round is white. Chin and throat, 

 dark glossy green, in winter the chin is yellowish white. 

 Breast above, pale chesnut brown, streaked with black, the 

 centres towards one side of the feathers being of that colour; 

 in winter it is paler, and mixed with white at the edge; 

 below the breast is white, and in front of the wings are 

 several rounded feathers, edged broadly with rich velvet black. 

 The sides of the breast are grey, pencilled with irregular bars 

 of darker. Back on the upper part, glossy black, and the 

 lower part deep greyish brown, undulated with white. 



The wings are dark brown at the point; greater wing coverts, 

 glossy black at the base, white at the ends; lesser wing 

 coverts, white, deep brown near the shoulders; primaries, 

 brownish black; secondaries, glossy black at the base, the 



