154 ANATID^ 



American Goosander, though it does not rank as a distinct 

 species, shows in the adult male a well-marked black band 

 across the wing-patch (Saunders). 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Mergus serrator (Linnaeus). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, 'Birds of Great Britain/ vol. v, pi. 

 35 ; Dresser, ' Birds of Europe,' vol. vi, pi. 453 ; Lilford, 

 1 Coloured Figures,' vol. vii, pi. 59 ; Booth, 'Eough Notes,' 

 vol. iii, pis. 15, 16, 17. 



The Ked-breasted Merganser is the most abundant of 

 the British Saw-billed Ducks. In many parts of Scotland 

 and Ireland it is resident, breeding on islands or shores of 

 inland lakes, and, to a less extent, in the vicinity of tidal 

 estuaries ; in England it occurs only as a migrant. There is 

 a considerable increase in numbers during autumn and 

 winter, due to the arrival of migrants travelling southward. 

 In spring, a return movement takes place, flocks continuing 

 to press northward until late in May. 



In winter, the Red-breasted Merganser is rarely met 

 with away from the tide : estuaries of large rivers, sheltered 

 bays, and salt-water channels, are its favourite resorts. 

 Assembling in large flocks, Mergansers may be seen 

 swimming and diving in company with Wigeon and other 

 common sea-fowl. Shy and vigilant by nature, they can 

 rarely be approached within gunshot. 



During the spring-season (usually about the middle of 

 April, when the birds are pairing) I have observed from a 

 boat, with the aid of a binocular, some fifty Mergansers 

 engaged in sport about the mouth of the river Liffey, 

 Dublin. Of a sudden, with necks stretched and lowered, 

 and head-plumes fully erected, two or three adult males 

 dash across the water, hotly pursuing the females ; the 

 latter dive to evade their suitors, and reappear on the sur- 

 face behind the rest of the flock. Espied a second time 

 by the ardent drakes, the chase is renewed, until a few 

 of the females, too closely followed, take wing, alighting 

 several hundred yards away. 



In the water this bird swims low, little of its body 

 being visible. On land it progresses in an awkward 

 shuffling manner, assuming a semi-upright gait. Now and 

 again I have met Mergansers standing on a sand-bank at 



