318 MERGANSER. 



become more like the plumage of the young- birds in the autumn, and 

 when completely moulted are not to be distinguished. 



This plumage, which has been assigned to the Pipit, is continued 

 through the winter, but the brighter hue of the olivaceous yellow be- 

 comes faded towards the spring-, and the throat, breast, and margins of 

 the feathers of the upper part of the body, continue to grow paler as 

 the summer advances, until they are thrown off in the autumn. 



With considerable attention to the weight and measurement, it has 

 been found that they are subject to a little variation, but the last varia- 

 tion is found to be as great in one state of plumage as in the other. 



" In Scotland," says Syme, " it is almost the only bird found upon 

 the vast extended heaths amongst which it breeds. We have often 

 seen them upon Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags, near Edinburgh; 

 likewise on the Calton Hill, on which is now built part of that city ; 

 and there, before the public walks, &c., were made, we have found its 

 nest. This bird, like most of the lark genus, sings on the wing, spring- 

 ing up, hovering a little, and then descending slowly, warbling till it 

 reaches the ground, which it does with a kind of sweep and a jerk of 

 the tail as it alights. Its natural song is sweet, but short ; but, by 

 proper care, it may be made an excellent song-bird ; and, after being 

 taught, it may be put, with great advantage, beside young canaries, 

 goldfinches, chaffinches, &c, who will readily learn its notes. The 

 nest of this bird is made of coarse grass; sometimes a little moss is 

 added, and lined with fine grass, and horse-hair ; it is placed in tufts of 

 grass, at the roots of furze, or close to a bush or stone near the ground. 

 The eggs, four to six in number, vary considerably in colour, some 

 being of a dark reddish-brown, others whitish, thickly speckled with 

 reddish-brown, or pale orange-coloured brown spots. The hen builds 

 her nest in April."* 



MEGG CUT-THROAT.— A name for the White-Throat. 



MERGANSER {Mergus serrator, Linn^us.) 



Mergus serrator, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 208. 3. — Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 546. 3. — Temm. Man. 

 d'Orn. 2. p. 886.— Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 829. 4. — Mergus cirratus fuscus, Rail, 



Syn. p. 135. A. 4.— Will. p. 255. t. 64.— Mergus niger, Gmel. Syst. var. Y 



Mergus cristatus, Briss. 6. p. 237. 2. t. 23 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 424.— Le Harle noir, 



Briss. 6. 253.— Le Harle huppe, Buff. Ois. 8. p. 273.— Red-breasted Merganser, 

 Br. Zool. 2. No. 261. t. 93.— Ib. Vol. 147.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 466.— Edw. t. 

 95.— Albin, 2. t. 101.— Lath. Syn. 6. p. 423. 3,—Lewin's Br. Birds, 6. t. 233. 

 Wale. Syn. 1. t. 81.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 18.— Don. Br. Birds, 2. t. 38.— 

 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 129. 



Provincial. — Red-breasted Goosander. Lesser-toothed Diver. 

 This species is about twenty-one inches in length; weight two pounds. 

 The bill is three inches long ; the upper mandible dusky, the lower 



