202 MERGANSEIIIN.E. 



natural objects ; but, to prevent the necessity of using a new 

 generic name, I shall adopt those of Merganser and Mergus 

 already used. 



Four species occur in Britain : two common, one rather 

 rare, the fourth a straggler. 



STiYOFSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. MERGANSER. GOOSANDER. 



Bill about the length of the head, nearly straight, taper- 

 ing, toward the end cylindrical, the edges with tapering, 

 acute, dentiform lamellae, directed backwards, the upper 

 unguis oblong, abruptly decurved ; tarsus very short, com- 

 pressed, with numerous small anterior scutella, reticulated 

 on the sides with flat angular scales ; hind toe very small, 

 arcuate, lobate ; anterior toes long, scutellate in their whole 

 length, the outer nearly as long as the third ; interdigital 

 membranes full, slightly concave on the margin ; claws 

 small, compressed, little arched, the third depressed and 

 rounded ; wings short, convex, acute, the first quill longest ; 

 tail short, much rounded, of eighteen stiffisli feathers. 



1. Merganser Castor. Buff-hreasted Goosander. Male 

 with the head and upper neck greenish-black ; the lower 

 neck, breast, abdomen, and sides reddish-yellow ; the wing- 

 spot white. Female with the head and upper neck brownish- 

 red, the lower neck pale grey barred with Avhite, the breast 

 and abdomen white. 



2. Merganser Sei'rator. Red-hreasted Goosander. Male 

 with the head and upper neck gi-eenish-black, the lower 

 neck light red streaked with dusky, the breast and abdomen 

 white, the sides minutely undulated, the wing-spot white, 

 with two transverse black bands. Female with the head 

 and upper neck reddish-brown, the lower neck brownish- 

 grey barred with white, the breast and abdomen white, the 

 wing-spot white, with a single black band. 



