. The birds of Europe . but also in theanatomical structure of the trachea, which wants the enlargement both of the tube and the bony beak, irides and feet are less brilliant in colour. Head, neck and crest rufous brown ; chin white; theuppersurface of the body uniform dark ash grey; the under part lighter with a tinge of cream-colour. These differences in the female, connected with the similarity of plumage characterizing the young malesof the year, (which are only to be distinguished by the masculine structure of the trachea, and rather largersize,) have induced early writers t
. The birds of Europe . but also in theanatomical structure of the trachea, which wants the enlargement both of the tube and the bony beak, irides and feet are less brilliant in colour. Head, neck and crest rufous brown ; chin white; theuppersurface of the body uniform dark ash grey; the under part lighter with a tinge of cream-colour. These differences in the female, connected with the similarity of plumage characterizing the young malesof the year, (which are only to be distinguished by the masculine structure of the trachea, and rather largersize,) have induced early writers to consider them as a distinct species, to which they have applied the nameof Dundiver ; an error corrected by more recent observation. Its food consists of fish, small Crustacea, and molluscous animals. Its flesh is rank and unpalatable. The female is said to lay twelve whitish eggs, but the nidification of this bird is little known. Our Plate represents a male and female in full plumage, two thirds of the natural ft< ea RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Mergus Harle hupp6. The Red-breasted Merganser appears to be the only species of this genus which occasionally breeds withus, remaining the whole year in the Orkneys and about some of the inland lakes of North Britain, buildingits nest, which consists of dried bents, grass, &c, on any elevated situation, as a rocky bank near the watersedge ; and laying from eight to twelve cream-coloured eggs. The British Islands appear to be the most southern limits of its summer abode ; but it is found in plentyon both continents within the arctic circle,—regions more congenial to its habits and more abundantly sup-plying its wants. Its powers of swimming and diving equal if not exceed those of the other species of this genus ; its foodis in all respects the same, and its flesh is equally rank and disagreeable. The Red-breasted Merganser is one third less than the Goosander, which it resembles in its habits andmanners, but diffe
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectpictorialworks
