64 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
Strong and powerful, and the rapid motion of’n.A^^ • 
duces a distinct whistling noise Its food mn • f 
fish, hut it also eats crLtaTca an,? sfelffisr^fn 
Mergansers assemble in parties, and even ' in the T" r‘ 
season several nests are found close together. ‘^‘eeding- 
some kind, such as that of 1 ^ It prefers shelter of 
times the down from the bird’s^h^^l ficathcr, but some- 
growing iimong Ihe bonldere or on the shaUo»! sof T?* 
neM IS nsnall, placed between the bonidera, or under a J n 
tree, but sometimes in the heather m hLg> t . ^ 
found the nest under the overhaLhi^L^^^^^ I have twice 
close to the water’s edge the nesi- ^ spruce-fir 
hollow scraped amongst the fallen fir neellf ^ consisting of a 
smoky-coloireddowtL On one neJ Zt f ’ ‘‘"r 
old bird sat so closely that I was able fn if" 
camera, though she flew off before the n ?' 
The egga in this case wore onVvtrsllgS.^TrbaS, 
Eggs. — From six to nine in number hnf 
as ten, or even twelve ; of an olive sto^e colour to' ?r?amy"S 
Axis, 2-45-2-65 inches; diam., Lream>-buff. 
Down.— Greyish-brown, with an “ eve ” of , i v 
hoary filamentous tips. ^ ‘'‘"d 
