46 DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



129. Merganser americanus (Cass.). American Merganser: 



Sheldrake. 



Adult male. — Head and short crest black glossed with green ; shoulders 

 black ; wing black, with white in middle ; rump and tail gray ; neck and 

 sides white ; breast creamy white or pale salmon. Adult female : head, 

 neck, and long thin crest light brown ; rest of upper parts bluish gray, 

 except white patch on middle of wing ; chin and breast white. Male : 

 length 2.5-27. wing 10.50-11.25, bill 1.90-2.20. Female: length 21-24, 

 wing 9.60-9.75, bill 1.80-2.00. 



Distribution. — Whole of North America, breeding from Pennsylvania 

 and mountains of Colorado and California, northward. 



Nest. — In hollow tree or on ground, lined with down. Eggs : 8 to 10, 

 pale huffy. 



The sheldrakes, while common and widely distributed, are never 

 abundant. They are usually found in pairs or small flocks along the 

 rivers or in open lakes w±ere there are plenty of small fish. In sum- 

 mer the few that remain in the United States to breed keep princi- 

 pally in the high mountains, along the streams or lakes of the Boreal 

 zone. Even the half fledged young delight in the cold water and 

 foaming rapids of a mountain trout stream. Vernon Bailey. 



130. Merganser serrator (Linn.). Red-breasted Merganser. 

 Adult male. — Head and crest black, glossed with green ; neck white ; 



back black ; middle of wings white ; rump gray ; chest huffy brown. 

 Streaked with blackisli : belly white or creamy : sides gray. Arhdt female: 



head and neck brown, darker and duller on crown and crest ; rest of upper 

 parts and tail slaty gray, except for white patch on wings ; under parts 

 white. Length : 20-25, wing 8.60-9.00, bill about 2.50. 



