RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 463 



ded island. In such situations, probably, escaping the 

 observance of man, many of these birds spread through 

 the country and breed, from Pennsylvania to the remotest 

 parts of the Canadian fur countries. 



The male Goosander is about 31 inches in length ; the female 25. 

 In the male the bill above, is 2 inches 4 lines; the tarsus 2 inches. 

 The males vary 4 inches and more in length. In the old male, the 

 head and upper part of the neck is of a greenish-black with reflec- 

 tions. Lower part of the neck, breast, vent, abdomen, wing coverts 

 and scapulars farthest from the body, pure white, but shaded elegant- 

 ly with yellowish rose color upon the lower parts (which fades 

 nearly away in dried specimens.) Top of the back and scapulars 

 nearest the body deep black. Humeral wing coverts blackish ; 

 greater coverts fringed with black. Back and tail ash. Bill ver- 

 milion red on the sides, but black above and below. Iris reddish- 

 brown, sometimes red. Legs vermilion. 



In the female the crest, mostly occipital, consists of long and slen- 

 der feathers ; the head and upper part of the neck rufous-brown. 

 Throat white. Lower part of the neck, breast, flanks, and thighs, 

 whitish-ash. Vent and abdomen yellowish-white ; all the upper 

 parts dark ash. Speculum white, without transverse bands. Bill 

 dull red. Iiis brown. Feet yellowish-red; the webs cinereous 

 red. 



The young of the year scarcely differ from the female. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



(Mergus serrator, Linn. Gmel. Lath. Ind. ii. sp. 4. Wilson, viii. 

 p. 91. pi. 69. fis- 2. [male.] Bonap. Synops. No. 348. Temm. ii. 

 p. 884. Rich, and Swains. North Zool. ii. p. 462. Red-Breasted 

 Merganser, Pexn. Arct. Zool. ii. No. 466. Edwards. Glean, t. 95. 

 [male.] Le Harle Hupp6, Buff. PI. Enlum. 207. Phil. Museum, 

 No. 2936.) 



Sp. Charact. — Speculum white, crossed with black ; Bill and feet 

 orange ; nostrils near the base of the bill ; a long slender pendent 

 crest. — Male black, neck and beneath white ; head and crest 



