MERGANSERS. 459 



female parent only. The males at this season secede from their 

 mates, who are alone seen in company with, and act as the pro- 

 tectors of their brood ; when pursued they escape by swim- 

 ming and diving, and however driven, the mother in every ex- 

 tremity remains by her brood, long unable to fly, and refuses to save 

 herself by taking to wing. Their flesh is generally tough and ill 

 tasted. 



The genus consists of but 5 species. All the European, and one 

 race peculiar are found in North America, and there is another 

 species on the Southern side of the same continent. 



