. The birds of Ohio; a complete scientific and popular description of the 320 species of birds found in the state . vers, but the sharp teeth,inclining backward as they do, are calculated to hold the most slippery caught in fair pursuit form the bulk of their food, but frogs, waterinsects, cray-fish, and other crustaceans, vary the monotony. Since the takingof such prey depends primarily upon unimpeded eye-sight, it goes withoutsaying that these birds prefer clear waters and free course. Hence, they aremore often found upon our rivers, even the swiftest running streams, thanupon the
. The birds of Ohio; a complete scientific and popular description of the 320 species of birds found in the state . vers, but the sharp teeth,inclining backward as they do, are calculated to hold the most slippery caught in fair pursuit form the bulk of their food, but frogs, waterinsects, cray-fish, and other crustaceans, vary the monotony. Since the takingof such prey depends primarily upon unimpeded eye-sight, it goes withoutsaying that these birds prefer clear waters and free course. Hence, they aremore often found upon our rivers, even the swiftest running streams, thanupon the reservoirs and reed-grown ponds. It is to be feared that whenthe Fish Duck encounters a lusty school of minnows he does not agree thatenough is as good as a feast. An Arctic authority, Hearne, states thatit devours fish in such great quantities as to be frequently obliged to disgorgese\eral before it can rise from the water. It is noteworthy in this connectionthat the skin of the throat is unusually elastic, so that the bird can accommodatea large catch. Dr. Wheaton mentions having captured one which had swal-. THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 621 lowed an entire sucker, the head of which had been partially digested, leavinga portion still seven inches long to protrude into the birds mouth. Like the Golden-eyes and some other ducks, this bird usually occupies ahollow tree or stub for a nesting site. The cavity is warmly lined with weeds,grasses and rootlets, and plentifully supplied with down from the birdsbreast. The eggs are of a clear creamy, or dull buffy tint, and have thehard-oil-finish characteristic of all ducks eggs. The young when hatched require to be transported to the water in thematernal beak—a rather trying ordeal, we must presume. No. 308. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. A. O. U. No. 130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). Synonyms.—Red-brbasted Sheledrake ; Shelldrake; Saw-bii,i,. Description.—Adult male: Head all around black, with a greenish glosson sides above; a loose cr
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectbirds, bookyear1903
