RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
MERGUS SERRATOR. 
The Red-breasted Merganser is by far tbe most numerous of tlie family of sharp-billed Diving-Ducks that 
frequent the British Islands. This species may be met with in small flocks, during most winters, along the 
sea-coast of the southern and eastern counties. I have not recognized it in the north of England on more 
than one occasion, though in the south of Scotland it appears less scarce. In the more northern parts of the 
Ilighlands this handsome bird is a resident, breeding in several counties and on tbe adjacent islands. 
Between fifteen and twenty years ago small parties were occasionally to be observed about the channels in 
the muddy harbours of Chichester, Emsworth, and Bosham ; and in December 1859 I killed a remarkably fine 
male at Pagham Ilarbour *, near Bognor. The rosy hue on the breast of this specimen was deeper in tint 
than in any bird I have subsequently obtained or observed. Numbers showing the plumage of the female or 
the various immature stages may also be seen annually in flocks of from half a dozen to fifteen or twenty off 
the coast between Littlehampton and Shoreham. Tliese birds for the most part resort to the open sea, though 
when undisturbed they not unfrequently make their w’ay to the small pools of brackish Avater inside the 
sea-beach, and occasionally proceed some distance up the rivers. This species is not so plentiful towards the 
east of Sussex ; but a few are to be met with along the coast off Pevensey Marsh and also in Rye Bay, Some 
years back, before the water was drawn off from the pools and cliannels about the liarbour and marshes round 
Rye, these spots Avere frequently visited. The constant persecution, however, that they met Avith from the 
numerous gunners eventually drove them from this district, l)efore the reclaiming of the land rendered their 
old haunts unsuitable. On the last occasion (January ISGG) that I passed a week for fowling in the bay and 
marshes, I did not observe more than one or tAvo single birds, and these stragglers kept entirely to the salt Avater. 
Along the Norfolk and Suffolk coast these birds are usually to be seen during autumn, AAunter, and early 
spring. The salt-water harbours about Lowestoft and Yarmouth proAude a supply of suitable food, but the 
professional gunners are far too w'atchful to alloAv them many chances of settling. Off this coast I ha\'e never 
observed the Merganser so plentiful as in the English Channel. In severe weather a few may be met Avith 
on any open pieces of AA^ater on the rivers and broads of East Norfolk. According to my oAAm experience in 
this locality, the Merganser is not so plentiful as tlie Goosander. Old males in perfect plumage, as is the case 
in all parts of the south, are exceedingly scarce as w'ell as Avary. During hard frosts in the Avinters of 18G0 
and 18G1, I met with this species on several occasions in open parts of tbe Cam, near Cambridge, and in the 
neighbourhood of MAterbeach and Micken fens, also more than once on the backAvater near Granchester 
These birds did not frequent the marshy pools on the poor lands or fens, resorting only to the riA’ers or lodes f 
Along the coast of East Lothian flocks of Mergansers appear early in the Avinter ; the estuary of the 
Tyne, near Dunbar, is a favourite spot. At times they make their Avay to the pools on the links ; but in such 
* This harbour, a first-rate resort for fowl in days gone by, has now been drained for some years. 
t Local name for a broad water-dyke, capable of navigation by flat-bottomed boats. 
