﻿RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 179 



WA TA TORES. A NA TID/H. 



PLATE CCLXIX. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



MERGUS SERRATOR. 



The Red-breasted Merganser is a regular winter visitant 

 in Great Britain, most frequent in severe winters. In the 

 northern parts of Scotland and some of the islands, several 

 remain throughout the year. 



The same countries that are enumerated as the resort of 

 the foregoing species, form the habitation of the bird now 

 before us : the numbers that visit us are, however, less. The 

 places principally frequented by the Red-breasted Merganser 

 are the sea-coasts, the mouths of rivers, bays, and inland 

 lakes, from whence it departs to the sea-coast, when driven 

 away in consequence of hard frosts that debar access to its 

 provisions. 



The spring plumage of the present species is a very hand- 

 some attire, and the elongated feathers about the head greatly, 

 increase the beauty of its appearance. This bird is rarely 

 seen on dry land, since its chief occupation is on the surface, 

 or beneath the liquid element. When on land, its walk is a 

 perfect waddle, but the bird is able to walk fast when re- 

 quired. In swimming and diving it greatly resembles the 

 Goosander, and it can remain also quite two minutes under 

 water. 



q 3 



