354 BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 

 (Mergus Serrator, Linn. Harle htippe, Temm.) 



THIS bird measures one foot nine inches in 

 length, and two feet seven in breadth, and weighs 

 about two pounds. The bill, from the tip to the 

 angles of the mouth, is three inches in length, 

 slender, and of a rather roundish form, and like 

 those of the rest of this genus, hooked at the tip, 

 and toothed on the edges : the upper mandible 

 is dark brown, tinged with green, and edged with 

 red ; the lower one wholly red ; the irides are deep 

 red : the head, long pendent crest, and upper part 

 of the neck, are of a glossy violet black, changing 

 in different lights to a beautiful gilded green: the 

 rest of the neck and belly white : the breast rusty 

 red, spotted with black on the front, and bordered 

 on each side with five or six white feathers, edged 

 with black : the upper part of the back, glossy 



