238 ANATID^B. 



back are black, the wings barred with black and white, 

 and prettily covered by the long drooping tertial feathers, 

 which are black, with a white streak down the centre. 

 There are two semicircular black marks on either side 

 of the white breast, which have a very pretty effect. 

 The under parts are white, and the sides covered with 

 fine lines of black. The legs are flesh-coloured. 



The female has also a crest, though she is smaller, 

 and far less striking in size and marking. Her nest is 

 more carefully made than is usual with the order gene- 

 rally, and contains six or eight white eggs. 



The Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) is 

 more common than the above, and appears to prefer fresh 

 water to salt, though frequenting both. 



The Goosander (Mergus Americanus) feeds on fish, 

 and is very wary and difficult of approach, diving long 

 before the shooter can get within range. To an ordi- 

 nary observer, or one not acquainted with its habits, it 

 appears to remain under water altogether ; for it is 

 cunning enough, when obliged to come up for air, to 

 raise only its bill as far as the nostrils above the sur- 

 face, so as to be all but invisible even in perfectly 

 open water. When among grass or aquatic plants, 

 which it always resorts to if practicable, it defies 

 detection, owing to its singular faculty of keeping the 

 body submerged close to the surface of the water. 



