THE UED-miEASTEI) MEUCANSEK. 
2G7 
receiving no reinforcements from other countries. As the 
winter advances these separate into smaller Hocks, and these 
again by the middle or end of March have nearly all broken 
up into pairs, the small parties which are seen after that date 
being almost entirely composed of immature birds. At that 
time, and for some weeks afterwards, solitary males are often 
to be seen basking upon isolated rocks, or even upon a retired 
beach, apparently asleep in the sunshine. I have frequently 
known of their being surprised and shot under such circum- 
stances. The habit is chiefly to be observed in quiet, calm 
summer mornings ; but there is no season of the year at which 
I have not seen the drakes thus sleeping in the daytime. 
IMergansers occasionally visit the lochs, but much prefer the 
sea, rarely going far from land, and delighting in secluded 
voes or small quiet iidets, where they can fish among the rocks. 
Undisturbed, sometimes, in the eagerness of their search they 
will allow the tide to ebb away as they explore some un- 
usually prolific stream ; but they soon perceive their error, and 
make their way back with all haste. At such times, if a speci- 
men be wanted, one may obtain a good shot by running between 
them and the sea, for which they are sure to make in a direct 
line, without rising higher than a few yards ; but it should be 
borne in mind that a very few strokes of the wings will suffice 
to put them at full speed, to which of course they resort in 
peril so imminent. When Mergansers are feeding in water 
too shallow for diving, they are not very easily distinguished 
at a distance, owing to their habit of keeping the head almost 
constantly submerged, leaving nothing in sight but the back — 
a mark altogether inconspicuous among the numerous small sea- 
weed covered rocks, just rising above the surface. I have seen 
one swimming round the rocks with its head and neck under 
water, searching for fish among the weeds, and on its discover- 
ing a fish at a depth it has dived instantly, without previously 
raising the head to take breath. After swallowing a fish, which is 
always first brought to the surface, the bird raises the fore part 
of its body, flaps its wings, and then takes a drink of salt water, 
