ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — MERGUS. HI 



have enlarged ovaries. He did not, however, meet with any of this species in the 

 neighborhood of Mazatlan. 



The specimen procured in Wisconsin was taken on Kock Eiver, November, 1870. 

 Mr. L. Kumlien is confident that he has since met with one of these birds on Lake 

 Koskonong ; but he was not able to secure it. 



Geistus MERGUS, Linnaeus. 



Mergus, Lixn. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 129; ed. 12, I. 1706, 207 (type, Mergus vurganscr, Linn.). 



Char. Bill lunger than the head, the breadth uniformly ahuut eipial to the depth, the serra- 

 tions conical, acute, and pomted backward ; crest occipital, pointed, or scarcely developed and 



M. mergoMser. 



depressed. Tarsus nearly three fourths the middle toe, with claw. Tail about half the length of 

 the wings. Bdl mostly reddish. 



The two North American species of this genus may be readily distinguished as follows, the 

 females alone resembling one another : — 



1. M. merganser. Nostril situated near the middle of the maxilla ; frontal feathers extend- 

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

 the neck greenish black ; head scarcely crested ; jugulum and other lower parts creamy 

 white, or pale salmon-color. Adult female: Head and neck reddish (chin and throat 

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

 a. Merganser} Black bases of the greater wing-coverts entirely concealed by the over- 



1 Mekgus merganser. 



Mergus merganser, Linn. S. X. ed. 10, L 1758, 129; ed. 12, I. 1766, 208. — Naum. Vog. 



Deutschl. Xn. 1844, 356, pi. 326. 

 Mergus ruhriaqnlla, BitiJNN. Oni. Bor. 1764, 22. 

 Mergus castor, Linn. S. N. L 1766, 209. — Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Eur. 88. — Gray, Gen. B. 



IIL 629 ; Cat. Brit. B. 1863, 208. 

 Merganser castor, Bonap. Comp. List, 1838, 59. — Macgill. Man. II. 194. 

 Merganser Raii,'LY.KCYi, Syst. Cat. 1816, 36. — Steph. Gen. Zool. XII. 1824, 161, pi. 53. 

 Mergus gulo. Scop. Ann. I. N. H. 1769, 69. 



Goosander, Yarr. Brit. B.-ed. 2, III. 395, fig. ; ed. 3, III. 398, tig. 

 Hab. I'alaearctic Region. 



