OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 457 



in company. The flight of this species is rapid and straightforward, 

 the wings, which are beaten verj' quickly, making a whistling 

 sound. It rises from the water in a rather laboured manner, 

 often flapping along the surface for several yards before getting 

 well on the wing ; but during a high wind I have noticed it start 

 up from the sea almost at once. It swims well, but sits low in 

 the water, and dives head first like a Cormorant, descending to 

 considerable depths, and often remaining under the surface for a 

 minute or more. The note of this bird is aptly described by 

 Naumann as a guttural kurr, uttered most frequently during 

 flight. The food of the Red-breasted Merganser consists largely 

 of fish, but crustaceans and small crabs are also eaten ; and I 

 have known this bird feed on limpets and whelks which the 

 Oystercatchers had only partly devoured. This food is mostly 

 obtained by diving, and it will be remarked that each capture is 

 almost invariably brought to the surface to be eaten, the bird 

 drinking and often rising three parts out of the water and flapping 

 its wings after doing so. The flesh of this bird is fishy in taste 

 and unpalatable. Be this as it may, I knew an old Highlander 

 who used to swear by a fat Merganser, which he partly boiled 

 first and then baked or roasted ! This bird always tries to elude 

 pursuit by diving — at least, such is my experience — both when in 

 pairs and in flocks, only taking wing when the chase has 

 evidently become too hot. 



Nidiiication. — In the British Islands the breeding season of 

 the Red-breasted Merganser begins in May, and the eggs are 

 laid during the latter half of that month and the first half of 

 June ; but in more northern latitudes they are about a month 

 later. This bird can scarcely be called gregarious during the 

 breeding season, although many pairs may nest within a com- 

 paratively small area, especially in places where suitable sites axe 

 scarce. I should say they are distributed in more or less 

 scattered pairs, each keeping much to itself. An island is pre- 

 ferred for a nesting-place, but where such is not available a quiet 

 part of the mainland is chosen. All the nests that I have seen, 

 and I have seen a good round number, were situated on rocky 

 islets, except one, and that was on a portion of the shore which 

 became an island at high water. The nest is usually made under 



