Oct. 1885.] 



AND OOLOGIST. 



159 



Unlike the great Black-backed Gull, the beauteous North- 

 ern Diver, the Fulmar Petrel, &c., the bird now under re- 

 view is of a decidedly social disposition, and, on that ac- 

 count, is more frequently to be seen in flocks than in 

 a solitary state. Its voracity is excessive and generally 

 known ; and we need not wonder, therefore, that its princi- 

 pal occupation consists in the pursuit, capture and con- 

 sumption of various species of fish, especially sand-eels, for 

 which it manifests an especial relish. The following is the 

 method of procedure. 



The bird swims about gracefully upon the surface of the 

 sea for some Httle time, occasionally poking its head and 

 neck beneath the water, as if searching about for some deli- 

 cate morsel, then, suddenly elevating its body, and plunging 

 straight ahead, it instantly disappears from view. Its com- 

 rades, suspecting that pome sport is to be had below, follow 

 suit; so that the entire flock seems to vanish, as if by 

 magic. After traversing the watery regions with consider- 

 able swiftness and dexterity (using the wings as well as the 

 webbed feet), the Merganser appears once more above the 

 surface, bearing a fish in its mouth, and looking as lively as 

 ever. The booty is soon disposed of down "red lane," 

 whereupon the bird drinks a little water by way of condi- 

 ment or digestive, or perhaps to wash the meal down more 

 thoroughly ; and then gleefully flapping its wings, it appears 

 eminently satisfied with the entire proceeding. To inspect 

 a pair or more of these birds fishing in some shallow lake 

 left amid some far off waste of sand by the receded tide, is 

 an extremely interesting occupation. Such graceful move- 

 ments, such displays of agility, such attractive forms and 

 coloring cannot be discerned every day within the circle of 

 human intercourse. He who, towards the Autumn or mid- 

 winter, occasionally devotes an hour or so to the study and 

 contemplation of sea-bird habits and deportment, will as- 

 suredly not repent of the proceeding. The ever-varied and 

 beautiful tints and shades of ocean, the bleakness and deso- 

 lation of open wastes of beach-sand, wdl touch his heart, 

 and impress grateful ideas on his mind that will haunt him 

 for years. 



The lavish prodigality of life-energy expended by the Red- 

 breasted Merganser, the pungent stimulating character of 

 the regions which it inhabits during the most important 

 period of its existence, conspire with extensively endowed 

 digestive powers to render it excessively voracious. The 

 mouth is provided with a number of fine, conical, saw-like 

 lamellae or teeth, viz., about sixty in the upper jaw and 

 about thirty-five in the lower. The oesophagus also is 

 specially large and dilatable, so that ample provision is 

 thuswise made for the capture, steadfast seizure, and the 

 stormg up of a liberal amount of edible matter. Sand eels 

 are especially delectable to the gustatory organs of the bird. 

 Away from a desolate waste of sandy shore, damp, pool-be- 

 spread, and wreck-strewn, the bird establishes itself, and 

 commences the operations necessary to the procurement of 

 victuals. It perseveringly digs its sharp beak into the re- 

 treats of the sand-eel, until a desiderated morsel is grasped. 

 This species of eel is of a beautiful silvery color— a very 

 delicate fish about five or six inches long; so that the Mer- 

 ganser iu whose body it is recorded no fewer than twenty- 

 four of these were found, had managed, we should say, to 

 obtain a pretty good dinner of it ! 



Hovering on the confines of the comparatively clumsy 

 Anatidje, the Mergansers seem to have borrowed some por- 

 tion of their marvellous beauty and gracefulness from the 

 allied family of the Coiymbidte. The diving powers of our 

 bird are remarkable. It is shy and wary, with sharp ears, 

 and exceedily acute and far-ranging vision, and so com- 

 pletely, 80 adequately and promptly can its bodily move- 

 ments be adjusted to the dictates or promptings furnished 

 by the senses— so intimately associated and dependent are 



its motor and sensor nerves— that when a sea-fowler fires off 

 his gun, the bird dives with incredible dexterity, disappear- 

 ing from view ere the shot can reach the now deserted seat. 

 The predilection of the bird for red color, however, is the 

 snare which frequently proves fatal. It is recorded, that 

 this Merganser exhibits a weakness for the fascinations of 

 this color, and that the Swedish hunters, aware of this fact, 

 frequently take advantage of it, and by wearing red clothes 

 become enabled to approach much nearer, so as to direct 

 their fire with more sure and deadly effect. 



The wings of the Red-breasted Merganser are only of 

 moderate length (not extending to the tail),— and of moder- 

 ate breadth. The body, like that of the Divers {Colt/mhidai), 

 is comparatively heavy, weighing in an ordinary specimen 

 about two pounds. Yet, notwithstanding the unfavorable 

 circumstance, the flight of the bird is undoubtedly strong, 

 swift, and remarkably well sustained. 



Now if we compare these facts with those furnish- 

 ed by an inspection of the flying apparatus, of, say the 

 Great Black-backed Gull {Lams ■m«rmMS), we shall perhaps 

 be able to glean some grains of ornithological truth. Have 

 you ever observed the mighty sweep of this Gull's wings? 

 They measure five feet across, and the weight of the bird 

 itself is, on the average, only about three or four pounds. 

 Now, if we compare these various weights and measures 

 with those of the body and wings of the Red-breasted Mer- 

 ganser, the important truth may flash upon us, that the 

 greater the weight of the bird, the less proportionally is the 

 spread of the wing necessary to sustain its body in the air. 

 In the consideration of the flying capabilities of a bird, let 

 us never forget the fact that, in heavy birds the motion of 

 the wings in the act of flying is comparatively slow, while 

 in light birds it is comparatively swift. The former circum- 

 stance is illustrated in the dilatory, lazy-paced, ungainly 

 flying of the Crane, the Heron, &c., the latter in the mar- 

 vellous agility of wing displayed by the sylph-like Petrels, 

 Skuas, Terns, &c. It seems, too, to be an indisputable 

 fact, that the larger and weightier birds, when once fairly 

 launched into the air, can sustain and propel themselves 

 with a much less expenditure of animal energy than that 

 required from the smaller and less ponderous among the 

 feathered tribes. Those naturalists who have marvelled at 

 the apparently excessive muscular exertion involved in the 

 flight of birds, have, when the facts have been more thor- 

 oughly examined and elucidated, become sensible that the 

 strength of these aerial creatures is not so grievously taxed 

 as they formerly supposed. 



The Red-breasted Merganser, ever beautiful and accom- 

 plished, and not exhibiting any very marked or reprehensi- 

 ble meddling, domineering, piratical or other objectionable 

 proclivities, may be fairly ranged as regards "social posi- 

 tion" on the same level with the "aristocratic" Divers. In- 

 spect and feel the soft, close, blended, velvety plumage of 

 this latter group of sea birds, and compare it with the hair 

 of the thorough-bred horse, or even (if such be allowed) 

 with the locks of the well-bred gentleman, and then de- 

 clare if, as respects this important constituent of their ex- 

 ternal aspect, they are not entitled "to flourish in any so- 

 ciety." To speculate upon the social position or upon the 

 respectable appearance of birds, may appear ridiculous ; but 

 my. observations and studies in Natural History have been 

 valueless, if roughness or smoothness, coarseness or refine- 

 ment in the external integuments, in the hair, nails and 

 other appendages of animals, does not stand as a sign and 

 index, a mark and register of something more recondite 

 and fundamental, of something intimately connected with 

 the most elementary organic structures, and with the ulti- 

 mate fountains of animal energy. 



The following account of the specific characteristics of 

 the male Red-breasted Merganser {Mergus serrator) cannot 



