THE AMERICAN MERGANSERS 29 



burnished metal, and the creamy white of their long 

 necks and full shoulders showing in varying outlines. 

 Such a profusion of white in the bright glow of a 

 lengthening day is a conspicuous reminder of the 

 return of spring. 



The leader of this small advance guard was attended 

 by two sombrely attired females following faithfully 

 in close alignment. He looked suspiciously at the 

 open water in the marsh, where many noisy Gulls 

 had congregated, but was not inclined to alight. As 

 he turned toward the open water of the lake, passing 

 low over the sandbar, the faint red glow of his breast 

 seemed a reflection from the sun's rays struggling 

 through the clouds rather than an actual tint in the 

 shield of white. Out over the lake the rapidly 

 diminishing forms of the trio showed the speed of 

 their retreat, but their course was a great circle, which 

 brought them again to the open water of the bay. 

 The detour had given them confidence, for they 

 settled easily to the surface, checking their speed 

 with expanded wing and trailing, splashing feet. There 

 must be concerted action or a wide response to local 

 attraction among the migrants. The three were 

 scarcely settled in the water when three more, all 

 males in full plumage, came along the eastern shore 

 line in earnest haste. With scarcely a hesitating curve 

 they pitched down beside the earlier arrivals. These 

 Mergansers are uncertain migrants, and seem more 



