284 INDIAN DUCKS. 



or ffer-rr,^'' heard chiefly during flight, sometimes on rising, and the f^emales 

 and young are said to be more noisy than the adult males. 



Like the Goosander, the Red-breasted Merganser can at will either 

 float fairly high on the surface of the water, deep down in the water, or 

 entirely submerge its body, leaving only its head and neck visible. 



As regards its breeding-habits, it is remarkable that whereas it is the 

 exception for the Goosander to breed building its nest on the ground, it 

 would appear to be the rule for this bird to do so, and the exception for it 

 to build on trees. 



Saxby, describing its nesting in the Shetlands, says that, " Although 

 they often lay amongst long grass, they seem to prefer the shelter of a roof 

 of some kind, and thus it is that the eggs are most commonly found under 

 rocks, in rabbit-burrows, and even in crevices in old walls."' 



In YarrelFs ' History of British Birds,' iii, p. 2^58, there are the 

 following remarks : — " This species, Mr. Thompson says, .... is in- 

 digenous to Iceland, nesting in islets both of marine and freshwater 

 loughs. Pennant has recorded its breeding in the Isle of Islay. Sir W. 

 Jardino and Mr. Selby found nests of this species wdien on a fishing- 

 excursion upon Loch Awe, in Argyleshire. One of these nests was n})on a 

 small wooded island })laced among thick brushwood, under tlie covert of a 

 projecting rock, and completely surrounded with nettles, long grasses, and 

 ferns. It was carefully made of moss plucked from the adjoining rocks, 

 mixed with the down of the bird, both in structure and materials reseuibling 

 that of the Eider Duck. It contained nine eggs, of a rich reddish-yellow 

 01' fawn-colour. The bird was remarkably tame, sitting until nearly taken 

 with a small hand-net. Sir W. Jardine very kindly sent me one of these 

 eggs for my collection ; it measured 2^ inches in length and 1^ inches in 

 breadth." 



Dresser also says that "it usually ])Iaces its nest upon the ground in 

 quiet, unfrequented places amongst the low Inishes or rank lierl)age : 

 occasionally it is found in the hollow of a tree. I possess a nest, which is 

 now before me, and which is composed of moss, fine grass-bents, and a few 

 small pieces of twigs well felted together and mixed with down. 



"The eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are usually de})osite(l in 

 June, or somewdiat earlier than that." 



He describes the eggs as being "a dull stone-drab or creamy butll". 

 with a greenish-grey tinge, and measuring a})proximately from 2*55 to 

 2'80 inches in lenoth and 1*70 to 1"85 in breadth.'" 



