ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 247 
in plumage, both being much less handsome than the adult 
drake. The nest may often be obtained from the vicinity of 
the Scotch and Irish lakes, the breeding season commencing 
early in June. The food of this species consists of fish of 
various sorts, which it easily captures under water, its sharply 
notched bill enabling it to retain its slippery prey, which 
includes quantities of freshwater and sand eels; they are also 
very destructive to the young salmon in some parts of Ireland. 
During part of the summer the male undergoes a change of 
plumage, at which time, like the Common Mallard, it closely 
resembles the female. The peculiar character of their diet 
renders the Mergansers somewhat difficult of domestication, 
and I am not aware that they have ever been known to breed in 
captivity ; at the same time the Zoological Gardens of London 
possess several specimens which remained in good condition 
upon a diet of small live fresh-water fish. I have no doubt 
that by degrees these birds would accept a mixture of meat 
biscuits and other food, or better still, small, narrow strips of 
tripe as Cormorants will. 
Male.—Head with large soft crest and upper neck 
glossy green-black ; top of neck white; lower part reddish- 
brown, spotted with black ; upper body black ; shoulder white, 
feathers broadly edged with black; flight feathers brownish- 
black ; chest and abdomen white; bill, eye, and legs reddish- 
orange. 
Female.—Head, crest, and upper body brown ; shoulder 
brown; secondaries white; under parts white; bill, eye, and 
feet reddish-orange. 
Young.—In down, dark brown on upper body, white 
below. In first feather similar to female, but crest shorter, 
and brighter in colouring. 
Egg.—Creamy buff; ten to twelve in number; “olive 
