242 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



water lakes near the sea, and it has been noticed that they 

 are built upon small islands, as Mr. Audubon conjectures, for 

 the purpose of allowing the sitting bird to get soon to the 

 water in case of danger. The nest, raised upon a mass of 

 dead weeds, collected perhaps for the purpose, is composed 

 of dry grass or fibrous roots, lined with down and feathers ; 

 and the eggs, from four or five to seven or eight in number, 

 are of a pale buff-colour, bearing considerable resemblance 

 to those of the Eed-breasted Merganser, but larger, and 

 usually of a lighter colour. 



THE EED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Mergus senator. In 

 England and the south of Scotland, it is only during the 

 winter that this bird is met with, but upon the islands and 

 along the margins of the more retired Highland lochs, it is 

 known to incubate, as also in the Hebrides, and Orkney 

 arid Shetland Islands. In Northern Europe it breeds, and 

 is abundant. The nest is often placed among long grass, 

 heath, or brushwood, on the inagin of lakes, or on the banks 

 of small rivulets, and is formed of grass and moss, lined with 

 down and feathers. The eggs, from six to eight or ten in 

 number, are rather larger than those of a Duck, and of a 

 uniform soft and delicate buff-colour. 



THE HOODED MERGANSER. Mergus cucuttatus. This is 



