ANATID.E THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 189 



Apparently the only difference of coloration between this spe- 

 cies, and the European M. merganser, is that adult males have 

 the black at the base of the greater wing-coverts exposed, so 

 as to form a very distinct band about half way across the wing, 

 while those of the latter have this black entirely concealed by 

 the overlying middle coverts. There is, however, a difference in 

 the proportions of the bill in the two forms which seems to be 

 of specific importance. In the females, this difference in the bill 

 is apparently the only obvious distinguishing character. 



The American Merganser, more commonly known as the Shel- 

 drake, Fish Duck, or Saw-bill, winters from Illinois and other 

 states in the same latitude southward, and breeds from Iowa, 

 Minnesota, etc., north to the Arctic districts. Formerly it 

 nested in Pennsylvania and other portions of the more eastern 

 United States, and in the western portions it still breeds very 

 much farther south than it is known to do on the eastern side 

 of the Mississippi, Dr. Mearns having found it nesting along 

 various mountain streams which are tributary to the Verdi and 

 Salt Rivers in Arizona. 



The Merganser feeds chiefly on fish, and for this reason its 

 flesh is rank and unpalatable. Hearne says that it devours its 

 food in such quantities that it is frequently obliged to disgorge 

 several tim< s before it can rise from the water, and that it can 

 swallow fishes six or seven inches in length. 



Its nest, like that of many other ducks, is usually p'aced in 

 cavities of trees. 



Merganser serrator (Linn.) 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 

 Popular synonyms. Bed-breasted Goosander or Sheldrake; Gar-bill; Sea-Robin, e^c. 



Mergus serrator LINN. S. N. ed. 10, i. 1758, 129; ed. 12, i, 1766, 208. WILS. Am. Orn. viif, 

 1811, 81. pi. 6!>. Sw. & RICH. F. B.-A. ii. 1831, 462. NUTT. Man. ii, [834, 463. \UD. 

 Orn. Biog. v, 18(9. 92, pi. 401; Synop. 1839, 298; B. Am. vi, 1813, 395, pi. 412. BAIRD, 

 B. N. Am. 1858. 814; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, No. 612. COUES, Key. 1872, 296; Check 

 List. 1873, No. 522; 2d ed. 1882, No. 744; B. N. W. 1874, 581. HENSH. Zool. Wheeler's 

 Exp. 1875. 484. RIDGW. Orn. 40th Par. 1877, 627; Noin. N. Am. B. 1881, No. 637 

 B. B. & R. Water B. N. Am. ii, 1884, 116. 



Merganser serrator SCHAFF. Mus. Orn. 1789. 66. A. 0. U. Check List. 1886, No. 130. 

 RIDGW. Man. N. Am. B. 1887, 89. 



Mergus cristatus BRUNN. Orn. Bor. 1764, 23. 



Mergus niger GMEL. S. N. i., pt. ii, 1788, 546. 



Mergus leucornelas GMEL. torn. cit. 



