182 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
found in Ireland, during summer. In Central Eu- 
rope it occurs in winter sparingly as in this country, 
but breeds and is abundant in Northern Europe. 
Japanese specimens, by Temminck aTe said to be 
identical with those from other countries, and it is 
well known to the ornithologists of North America. 
In a specimen procured from the Orkney seas 
during winter, we have the head and neck greenish 
black, mingled with a few reddish brown feathers ; 
the occiput adorned with a long loose crest ; the 
chin yellowish white ; the lower neck and upper 
breast reddish brown, paler and more mixed with 
white where it is joined with the greenish black 
of the head ; the back, sides of the breast, scapu- 
lars and quills, black ; the lower part of the back, 
rump, tail and flanks grey, the latter with nar- 
row irregular bars of black ; the breast, belly and 
vent, pure white ; the greater wing-covers and 
secondaries white, each with a black base which 
forms a double bar across the wing ; the tertials 
white with a narrow edging of black, but a most 
conspicuous marking is seen in a few rather large 
feathers which spring from each side of the breast 
above the bend of the wing, and over which, while 
the bird is at rest, they fold, — these are pure white 
with a margin all round of deep black. During the 
breeding season the colours are more vivid and more 
distinctly marked, the reddish brown or chestnut 
on the sides of the breast is deeper, and the head 
and crest are entirely glossy blackish green. 
The female somewhat resembles the Dundiver ; one 
