exceedingly common at that season in many parts of 

 the tideless Mediterranean and on the Lake of Geneva ; 

 it is, however, not so frequent a cold-weather visitor to 

 the inland waters of our own country as the Goosander. 



The Merganser is known by many names in the 

 British Islands, perhaps its most common designations 

 on the English coasts are " Saw-Bill," " Jack-Saw," and 

 " Jackawake." " Dundiver " is also occasionally applied 

 to the females and young birds, but more commonly to 

 those of the Goosander. In the part of Ireland to 

 which I have above alluded the present species was gene- 

 rally known as " Skeld-Duck ; " but in the north of 

 that country " Scale-Duck " is the usual rendering. I 

 believe that both of these latter are forms of " Sheld- 

 Duck," — a misapplication of name not confined to 

 feathered bipeds in the " Sister Island." The Mer- 

 ganser, as I believe, feeds entirely upon small fishes 

 obtained by diving. It is a wary bird in the winter 

 season, although in the summer it will sometimes allow 

 of the close approach of a boat ; its powers of con- 

 cealment, both in the water and ashore, are wonderful ; 

 it is a swift and. powerful flyer, but has a marked 

 objection to travelling over the land. I do not recollect 

 ever to have heard any cry or call uttered by the 

 present species. I have not been able hitherto to keep 

 a Merganser alive in confinement for more than a few 

 days ; but I must admit that I have not had more 

 than two or three opportunities of trying to do so. 



