Red-breasted Merganser 103 
with black, especially about the angle of the lower mandible, this feature varying in 
individuals. There is also a broad patch of black feathers round the eyes. Occipital 
feathers elongated and forming a double crest, the lower section being the longest ; lower 
neck and upper chest pale reddish-brown, with lighter edges ; mantle, scapulars, back, 
rump, and tail warm brown, with lighter edges, and with the back more ash coloured ; 
flanks brownish-grey, some of the long feathers being mixed with white ; primaries and 
i nner long secondaries blackish-brown ; middle secondaries white and black at the base ; 
larger coverts white, tipped with black ; smaller wing-crests brownish-grey ; under parts 
white; soft parts as in the male, only duller. Length, 19 to 20 inches; wing, 8.5 inches; 
tarsus, 1.8 inch. 
The Red-breasted Merganser has a very extensive range, being found throughout 
Europe, Asia, and N. America. 
Breeding Range. 
British Isles: Scotland. — It breeds in small numbers round the whole coast-line 
north of Forfarshire and Argyllshire, and in numbers on lochs and fresh-water streams in 
suitable places, being most numerous in Ross, Inverness, Caithness, and Sutherland. It is 
also a common breeding species in summer in the Inner and Outer Hebrides, and in 
the Orkneys. In the Shetlands a few breed. 
It is probable that it has now extended its southward range even into Ayrshire (cf. A. S. 
N. H., 1896, p. 255). There is some evidence that it has bred as far south as Bute, in the 
Firth of Clyde (J. Paterson, A. S. N. H., 1896, p. 255). More recently, Mr. J. Paterson 
states that it is now common in Dumbarton, Bute, and that part of Argyll which lies in the 
Clyde area. 
Ireland. — Common resident, except in S. and S.E., breeding on larger lakes and also 
on marine inlets (Ussher, B. of Ireland, p. 218 ; and List of Irish Birds, p. 36). Southern 
limit runs from Kerry on W., through Tipperary, Westmeath, Meath, to Co. Down on 
E. side. . .. 
Europe: Faroes. — Breeds sparingly (H. W. Feilden, Zool., 72, p. 3256). 
Iceland. — Breeds commonly (B. Hantzsch, B. z. K. Vogelwets Islands, p. 169, &:c.). 
Common and resident (Slater, Manual, p. 76). I saw several old birds with young at 
Myvatn and Fiskevatn, and it also breeds in the south of the island. 
Norway. — In South Norway, chiefly on higher ground in the interior ; but in North 
Norway right down to the coast (Westerlund, Scandinavisk. Fortpl. hist., p. 187). 
Sweden and Finland. — Generally distributed (Westerlund, /c^. cit). 
Russia. — From Lapland south to lat. 50° on the Volga (not on Kolguev), in the Ufa 
Government, and it is said in the mountains of the Caucasus ; but not in the Moscow, 
Tula, or Orenburg governments (S. A. Buturlin quoted by H. E. Dresser, Eggs of B. of 
Europe). 
The Baltic Provinces (Russow), and common in Livonia (Loudon). 
In Gennany breeds in the northern provinces, from Holstein in the west, Mecklenburg, 
Riigen, Pommern, West and East Prussia. 
Also commonly in Denmark in suitable localities (Winge and Olsen). 
America: Greenland. — Breeds locally along the W. coast ; also at one or two localities 
