226 DUCK-LIKE DIVING BIRDS. 



bird including the Grebes and Cormorants, all fine 

 swimmers and divers, progressing with body sunk 

 very low in the water, and diving with scarcely a 

 ripple to capture fish which they pursue for long 

 distances under water, the bird emerging at a con- 

 siderable distance from the spot where it disappeared, 

 and usually after a lapse of about half-a-minute. 



EED-BREASTED MERGANSER— 24 inches ; chest rufous, 

 streaked with black ; a conspicuous patch of white 

 feathers bordered with black near the shoulders. 



GREAT CRESTED GREBE — 21 inches; conspicuous 

 divided crest; face white; outstanding tippet around 

 the throat. 



RED - BREASTED MERGANSER. — Plate 9 9. 

 24) inches. Head, crest, and upper neck dark green; 

 white collar on the neck, interrupted behind by a 

 black line passing down the back of the neck ; back 

 black ; a patch of white feathers with black borders 

 just before the shoulders ; the larger flight-feathers 

 blackish -brown ; remaining feathers of the wing 

 white, barred with black ; chest rufous, streaked 

 coarsely with black ; sides of body and lower 

 back to the tail white, with fine, wavy, black lines ; 

 under parts from the breast white ; bill long, narrow, 

 hooked at the end, bright red, tipped with black ; 

 feet also bright red. Female : head and neck rufous, 

 whitish on the throat ; upper parts dull brown, 

 with a white patch on the wing ; lower parts white. 

 Resident and winter migrant. 



Eggs. — ^Up to 10, greenish-drab; 2*5 x 1-7 inches. 



