2 
llED-BREASTED MERGANSEll. 
cases the ahsencc of fish is speedily detected, and a short visit the result. On two or three occasions I observed 
a male and female in company remaining in this locality as late as May ; though frequently watching their 
movements when feeding in the shallow water round the rocks, and also at the mouth of the small river, I 
could detect no signs that they Avere nesting in the district. 
On almost every part of the coast-line round the Northern Highlands the Merganser is a constant resident. 
The breeding-haunts are usually not at any great distance from salt water. Along the western shores the 
numberless rocky islets and the wild and rugged country, intersected with hundreds of small lochs in the 
vicinity of the coast, afford suitable nesting-quarters. On the east the birds not unfrequently penetrate to 
more remote inland lochs. 
About Gairloch, on the west of Tloss-shire, Mergansers are exceedingly plentiful, and being seldom 
interfered with, become as tame as farmyard Ducks. I have repeatedly watched two or three females fishing 
in a small burn running down within ten yards of the front door of the inn*. The party swam in one by 
one from the hay Avith the flood, and, joining in company about the top of high water, made their way 
beneath the bridge, where they eagerly searched the small pools for fish. These birds, as far as I could judge, 
were sitting on the islands in the hay, and regularly left their nests at this time of tide to seek for food along 
the shore. The males were seldom seen near at hand, though one would occasionally join the flock if they 
got on Aving after being disturbed. As the females swam hack toAvards the islands where their nests were 
concealed, a drake Avould occasionally accompany his mate a short distance, but invariably got on wing before 
the foot of the rocks was reached. I have more than once had the glasses on the spot to watch the bird 
make her Avay to the nest after having observed her leave the water; hut although well aware of the 
exaet position of the eggs, she invariably managed to regain her quarters unobserved. In some instances I 
detected a regular track beneath the heather, along which she Avas enabled to creep Avithout attracting 
attention. At this season (the latter end of May) the males had lost the fine plumage they exhibited in 
the AA’inter and early spring ; the green of the head was noAv clouded with broAA'n, the broad white ring 
round the neck had disappeared, and the red or taAvny feathers on the breast had assumed a more dusky hue. 
On Loch Shin and other large lakes in the east of Sutherland I often remarked a someAvdiat singular 
habit of this species. Tavo, three, or at times even four broods join in company immediately after leaving 
the nest. Occasionally all the females may be observed with this school of youngsters, hut, as a rule, only 
one is seen t- Having noticed these birds repeatedly making their Avay hack on Aving from the direction of the 
coast, it is probable they betake themselves to the salt-Avater firths or the open sea. During the height of 
summer I never observed a Merganser shoAving any thing approaching the male plumage. I conclude they 
either entirely assume the dress of the female, or retire for a time from their usual haunts. 
The nest is usually carefully concealed beneath an overhanging slab of rock, or in some slight cavity in 
a heathery hank ; at times, on the shores of inland lochs, I liaA'e seen them w^ell hidden among thick hushes 
and shrubs, or under the stem of some rugged and Aveather-heaten tree. The eggs, most frequently from eight 
to ten in number, are warmly covered with the grey doAvn from the breast of the female. The outer poitiou 
of the nest is composed of dried strands of coarse grass, with occasionally a few small heather-stalks. ^ 
The nature of their food, which consists of any small fish they can capture, sand-eels, shrimps, and 
the various insects of repulsive aspect that inhabit both fresh and salt Avater, necessarily imparts a stron^ 
and disagreeable flavour to the meat; and I can safely assert that the Red-hreasted Merganser is utterly 
useless for the table. On different parts of the coast 1 have heard these Divers spoken of by the local gunners 
as SaAvhills or Spear-drakes. When unmolested, there are few birds so confiding; though if once their 
* The erection of the new hotel has doubtless altered all this. 
■f This curious custom often gives rise to the idea that the family of the irergaiiscr is more numerous than it is in reality, 
