M. merganser, Lin. Etc. Goosander, Prov. Jack-saw, or Harl. Wing-spot white ; the mature male furnished with a short and thick tuft. Length from twenty-six to twenty-eight inches ; extent of wing three feet two inches ; average weight four pounds. Inhabits the north of Eu rope, Asia, and America ; migrating, in severe winters, to more temperate climates, as the coasts of Britain, Hal land, France, &c. and even penetrating to the inland lakes of Germany and Switzerland, but always returning north in spring. In quest of fish, it dives deep, and with great celerity ; and it holds its slippery prey with much security by means of its serrated bill. It has been known to breed in the holes of trees, but more frequently among rocks or stones ; the female laying about twelve or fourteen whit ish eggs, almost equally pointed at both ends. These eggs are much relished by the Finlanders ; but the flesh is ran cid, and scarcely eatable. On the appearance of the young, the sexes separate ; the males congregating by themselves, and the females consorting with their offspring.
flu. serrator, Lin. Etc. Red-breasted Merganser, Red breasted Goosander, or Lesser Toothed Diver. Wing spot white, crossed by two black bars in the male, and by one in the female, the mature male with a long and fila mentous crest. Length twenty-one or twenty-two inches,
extent of wing two feet seven inches, and weight about two pounds. This species, likewise, is a native of the northern parts of the world, where it breeds and passes the summer ; but it is met with as far south as the Mediter ranean, and is common about the Laguni of Venice. In Hudson's Bay, Scc. it arrives early in June, when it makes its nest of withered grass, lined with the down of its own breast, on a little spot of soil that rises above the water of marshy tracts, and lays from about eight to thirteen ci nereous white eggs, of the size of those of the common duck. It is said also to breed as far south as the county of Ross, in Scotland, and in Islay, one of the Hebrides.
albellus, Lin. Scc. &new, or White Xun. Crest pendent, occiput black, body white, back and temples black, wings variega.ted. Size of a wigeon, and about fif. • teen or sixteen inches long. Inhabits the northern tracts of both continents, and in winter advances as far south as the shores of the Mediterranean. Like its congeners, it is a frequent and excellent diver, feeds on fish, shrimps, &c. and breeds on the margins of lakes and rivers, laying from eight to twelve whitish eggs.