81 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 

 MERGUS SERRATOE. 

 [Plate LXIX.— Fig. 2.] 



TJHarle huppe, Briss. VI, p. 237. 2. pi. 23 ^Buff. VIII, p. 27S.~Pl. Enl 207 — Bewick, II, j). 235. 



Edw. 95. — ^Lath. Syn. Ill, p. 432. — ^Peale's Museum^ ^Yo. 2936. 



THIS is much more common in our fresh waters than either 

 of the preceding, and is frequently brought to the Philadelphia 

 market from the shores of the Delaware. It is an inhabitant of 

 both continents. In the United States it is generally migratory; 

 though a few are occasionally seen in autumn, but none of their 

 nests have as yet come under my notice. They also frequent the 

 sea shore, keeping within the bays and estuaries of rivers. They 

 swim low in the water, and when wounded in the wing, very dex- 

 terously contrive to elude the sportsman or his dog, by diving and 

 coming up at a great distance, raising the bill only, above water, 

 and dipping down again with the greatest silence. The young 

 males of a year old are often found in the plumage of the female; 

 their food consists of small fry, and various kinds of shell fish. 



The Red-breasted Merganser is said by Pennant to breed on 

 Loch Mari in the county of Ross, in North Britain ; and also in 

 the isle of Hay. Latham informs us that it inhabits most parts of 

 the north of Europe on the continent, and as high as Iceland ; also 

 in the Russian dominions about the great rivers of Siberia, and the 

 lake Baikal. Is said to be frequent in Greenland, where it breeds 

 on the shores. The inhabitants often take it by darts thi'own at 

 it, especially in August, being then in moult. At Hudson's Bay, 

 according to Hutchins, they come in pairs about the beginning of 

 June, as soon as the ice breaks up, and build soon after their ar- 



VOL. VIII. X 



