106 On the Occurrence of some of the Rarer Species of Birds 



on February 29th, 1873; and Sir F. Bathurst informs me that a 

 fine male bird was killed some time ago on the ornamental water 

 in Clarendon Park. During some years they are frequent in the 

 Christchurch district. 



Mergus Serrator. " The Red-breasted Merganser." I have never 

 heard of this bird occurring in our meadows. But two or three 

 years ago, when down at Bournemouth, they appeared at that time 

 not to be uncommon there, and the boatmen gave them the name of 

 " Shrimpers." There was a specimen killed there this last winter, 

 1883-4. I was in a bird fancier's shop, the other day, at Reading, 

 during the late congress there, and he showed me a couple of these 

 birds that had recently been shot on Mr. Wheeble's pond, at Bull- 

 Marsh Court : an adult and an immature bird. These were two 

 out of a flight of some ten or a dozen that haunted the water there 

 for some time. It is not so big a bird as the Goosander, but equally 

 handsome in its way; its long crimson serrated bill, giving the 

 head a very peculiar appearance, and affording it a firm grip of its 

 prey. It is a splendid diver, and can remain under water two or 

 three minutes. 



Mergus Cucullatus. "The Hooded Merganser." In its adult 

 plumage, or, indeed, in any stage, this is a very rare visitor to us, 

 being an American species. Hart is unusually fortunate in possessing 

 a fine male bird in adult plumage, which was shot many years ago by 

 Aaron Chief, a workman in Holloway's ship-yard, at Christchurch. 



Mergus Albellus. " The Smew." Not common, but occasionally 

 found, both on our coasts and on freshwater ponds and rivers. A 

 very nice male was shot near Taunton, on the Tone, when I was 

 curate near there, in 1860. It occurs occasionally in Christchurch 

 Harbour. Not long ago, two fine adult males were killed at one 

 shot there. An adult male was also killed there in December, 1864; 

 and another in January, 1876; and an adult female on January, 

 24th, 1881; a male also on January 18th, 1881; and another by 

 Lord Norman ton on January, 2nd, 1882. 



With this bird we bid adieu to the long list of the Anatidce, and 

 come to the Grebes and Divers. 



(To be Continued). 



