Bird- Life in Labrador. 79 



species apply to this one also, and this and the last if not all 

 three, associate more or less together. Of its breeding habits 

 I am unaquaintcd, but believe them to be much like those of 

 the last species, both being different in many respects prob- 

 ably from those of americana. It seem to resort more to the 

 mouths of bays, not going out to sea so much as fusca. The 

 first specimen I received was from the Indians. It is known 

 by the name of the " bottle-nosed diver." October 20, at 

 Old Fort Bay, I obtained a male of an Indian who shot it in 

 the bay and saw its mate. It is the rarest of the three species 

 and more common in Spring than in Fall. 



MERGANSER GOOSANDER FISH DUCK 



Mergus merganser. (L.) 



I SAW a single specimen of this species while on the coast. 

 Doubtless it occurs rarely, though it is by no means as com- 

 mon as the succeeding speeies. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 



Mergus serrator. (L.) 



COMMON in Spring and Fall. Breeds occasionally if not 

 in localities even abundantly. It is here called the " shell- 

 bird." It feeds in the fresh water ponds principally, though 

 I am informed, and I think I have also noticed, that it fre- 

 quents also the salt water shoals. They are by no means wild 

 birds and are approached with comparative ease. Those I 

 saw flew low and rather slowly. One hunter had recently 

 found a nest with eighteen eggs in it, all good ; he reported 

 finding nearly that number on several other occasions. I 

 have taken male, female, and young birds often and find them 

 an easy bird to shoot and fine eating. They are easily de- 

 coyed. The usual number of eggs is eight to ten, sometimes 

 twelve. The males assemble in flocks by themselves while 

 the females incubate. They are fine swimmers and dive read- 



