ANATID^J THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 187 



mersed, It is also extremely expert at diving; and when wounded, 

 often escapes by doing this, and then hiding in the grass, if 

 there is any accessible." ( Water Birds of North America.) 



Mr. Salvin found this species more easily procurable than any 

 other of the ducks frequenting the lake of Duefias, in Guatemala, 

 on account of a peculiarity in its powers of flight which renders 

 its escape less easy than it would otherwise be. It can fly as 

 well as any other when it is once fairly started, but rises with 

 great difficulty from the water; and, in consequence of this, it 

 can be approached within easy gunshot by sailing down upon 

 it before the wind. Sometimes, however, it seeks safety by div- 

 ing; and when it does this, so rapid are its motions that it is. 

 almost certain to escape. 



The eggs of the Ruddy Duck are remarkably large in propor- 

 tion to the size of the bird, and are distinguished from those 

 of every other North American duck by the roughness of the 

 shell. 



SUBFAMILY MERGIN-ZE. THE MERGANSERS. 

 GENUS MERGANSER BRISSON. 



Merganser BEISS. Orn. vi, 1760, 230. Type, Mergus merganser LINN. 



GEN. CHAR. Bill longer than the head, the breadth uniformly about equal to the depth, 

 the serrations conical, acute, and pointed backward; crest occipital, pointed, or scarcely 

 developed and depressed. Tarsus nearly three fourths the middle toe, with claw. Tail 

 about half the length of the wings. Bill mostly reddish. Adult males with head and upper 

 neck greenish black, the occiput crested; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, plain ash-gray; 

 rest of upper parts mainly pied black and whitish: lower parts rich creamy white or pale 

 salmon-color. Adult females with head and upper neck cinnamon-brownish (occiput 

 crested, as in the male), chin aud part of throat white; upper parts grayish, with some 

 white on wings; lower parts buffy white. 



The two North American species of this genus may be readily 

 distinguished as follows, the females alone resembling one 

 another: 



1. M. americanus. Nostrils situated near the middle of the maxilla; frontal feathers extend- 

 ing farther forward than those on lateral base of bill. Adult male: Head and most of 

 the neck greenish black; head slightly crested; chest and other lower parts creamy 

 white, or pale salmon-color. Adult female: H ?ad *nd neck reddish (chiu and throat 

 white), the occiput 'with a full crest of lengthened feathers. Above, chiefly bluish gray. 



2. M. serrator. Nostrils situated near the base of the maxilla: feathers on lateral base of 

 bill extending farther forward than those on the forehead. Adult male: Head dull 

 greenish black, the occiput with a long pointed crest of narrow feathe. a; neck and sides 

 of the chest dull buff, or light cinnamon, streaked with black; other lower parts 



