104 
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
market from tlie shores of the Delaware. It is an inhabitant of 
both continents. In the United States, it is generally migra- 
tory ; though a few are occasionally seen in autumn, but none 
of their nests have as yet come under my notice. They also 
frequent the sea shore, keeping within the bays and estuaries 
of rivers. They swim low in the water, and, when wounded 
in the wing, very dexterously contrive to elude the sportsman 
or his dog, by diving and coming up at a great distance, rai- 
sing the bill only above water, and dipping down again with 
the greatest silence. The young males of a year old are often 
found in the plumage of the female ; their food consists of small 
fry, and various kinds of shell-fish. 
The red-breasted merganser is said, by Pennant, to breed 
on Loch Mari, in the county of Ross, in North Britain, and 
also in the Isle of Islay. Latham informs us, that it inhabits 
most parts of the north of Europe on the continent, and as 
high as Iceland ; also in the Russian dominions about the great 
rivers of Siberia, and the Lake Baikal. Is said to be frequent 
in Greenland, where it breeds on the shores. The inhabitants 
often take it by darts thrown at it, especially in August, being 
then in moult. At Hudson’s Bay, according to Hutchins, they 
come in pairs about the beginning of June, as soon as the ice 
breaks up, and build soon after their arrival, chiefly on dry 
spots of ground in the islands ; lay from eight to thirteen white 
sea, but even in severe weather do not so frequently ascend the rivers. They 
breed throughout the whole of. the north of Scotland, by the edges, or on the 
small islets of fresh water lakes, both sexes being seen in company only so long 
as the female continues to lay. The nest is placed in some thicket of brush- 
wood or rank herbage, and is composed of the same materials which Wilson has 
mentioned. The eggs are a rich yellowish fawn colour. Both Wilson and some 
of our British writers mention theih as white, or bluish white. When they have 
been sat upon for some time and approach to maturity, they receive the latter 
tint from the transparency of the shell. 
The female sits very close, and will allow an intruder to approach within the 
distance of a yard. All the nests which I have seen had two runs in opposite 
directions, leading out of the cover, and when disturbed, she followed one of these 
for a few yards before taking flight. — En. 
