THE SWIMMERS". 



1/3 



Their period of incubation commences about the beginning of June. The nest is constructed in 

 various situations, often in some excavation in the ground, hidden between stones or bushes, on the 

 tops of pollard willows, on the lofty eyries of birds of prey, in the deserted nests of Crows, or within 

 the cavities of hollow trees. At Jana-Elf we saw large chests, resembling dove-cots, upon all the 

 tallest trees ; these we were told were intended specially to induce the Goosanders to build their nests, 

 and lay their eggs in them. These breeding-boxes are likewise in common use among the Lapps and 

 Finns, and, as we learned, were regularly visited by the breeding birds. 



The nest itself is more or less artistically constructed of twigs, stalks, straw-grass, leaves, and 

 similar materials, always well and warmly lined with down. The brood consists of from eight to 



THE green-headed goosander (Mtrgus merganser). 



fourteen eggs, but by regularly abstracting them as they are laid, the female will sometimes produce 

 double those numbers. The eggs are well-shaped, rather elongate, slightly shining, and of a delicate 

 greenish brown, grey, or dirty olive-green colour. Only the female sits, and upon her the guardianship 

 of the young brood almost entirely devolves. Such as are born in nests placed at a considerable 

 height, must necessarily be brought by her to the surface of the ground, but we are not aware that 

 any naturalist has witnessed such a proceeding. It is just possible that, like some Ducks and Geese, 

 they may leap from the nest trusting to their fluttering wings and thick downy covering to come off 

 scatheless. Were we to judge by the observations we have had opportunities of making relative to 

 the breeding of the Red-breasted Merganser (Mergtts serrator), we should say that the young brood 

 at first comport themselves exactly like young Ducks ; soon, however, their natural peculiarities and 

 special endowments begin to show themselves, and after the lapse of about eight days, they adopt the 

 habits of their race. When first hatched they live upon small crustaceans and larvae, caught upon 

 the surface of the water, but on the third day are able to dive, and from the eighth day are quite 



