COMMON, or BED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



MERGUS SERRATOR, Linn. 



Mergus serrator, Linn. S. N. i. p. 208 (1766) ; Naum. xii. 



p. 333; Hewitson, ii. p. 437; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 494; 



Dresser, vi. p. 693. 

 Merganser serrator, Macg. v. p. 216. 



Le Harle huppe, French ; Mittlerer Soger, German ; Pato 

 de sierra, Serreta, Spanish. 



This bird is not uncommon during the autumn and 

 winter months on most parts of our coasts, and breeds 

 in considerable numbers in certain districts of Scotland 

 and Ireland. The nest of the Merganser is generally 

 placed in thick covert on the shores or islands of fresh- 

 water lakes and rivers, often amongst rocks and stones 

 overgrown and interspersed with heather, brambles, or 

 rushes, and, as I have been informed, occasionally in a 

 disused rabbits' burrow. The eggs, which vary in 

 complement from seven to ten, are of a drab-green 

 colour, and are usually hatched out about the beginning 

 of July. My own acquaintance with this species in 

 summer is entirely confined to some lakes in the west 

 of Ireland ; but in winter I have observed it on almost 

 every tidal estuary that I have visited. It is also 



