WATER BIRDS. 73 



X. Back grayish brown more or less cross- 

 lined or pencilled with white. Canvas- 

 back (female). No. 44. 

 XX. Back grayish brown without cross- 

 lines or pencilUngs of white. Red- 

 head (female). No. 43. 

 UUU. Speculum pure white. Y, YY. 



Y. Head mainly black, with blue, violet or green re- 

 flections, d, dd. 



d. A conspicuous white spot on each side of 

 head, e, ee. 



e. White spot round or oval. Whistler 



(male). No. 48. 

 ee. White spot more or less triangular 

 (Fig. 24) Barrow's Goldeneve. 

 (male). No. 49. 

 dd. No white on head, f, ff. 



f. Black of head glossed with green, 



flanks pure white without cross- 

 Hnes. Greater Blue-bill (male). 

 No. 45. 

 ff. Black of head glossed with purple, 

 flanks distinctly cross-lined with 

 dusky. Lesser Bluebill (male). 

 No. 46. 

 YY. Head and neck mainly brown, g, gg. 



g. A white face or ''mask" formed by 

 feathers about base of upper mandible, 

 h, hh. 

 h. Larger birds. Greater Bluebill (fe- 

 male). No. 45. 

 hh. Smaller birds. Lesser Bluebill (fe- 

 male). No. 46. 

 gg. No white face or mask, but a more or less 

 distinct white ring or collar around 

 lower neck, separating the brown of 

 the neck from the gray chest, i, ii. 

 i. White collar narrower. Barrow's 



Goldeneye (female). No. 49. 

 ii. White collar broader. Whistler, (fe- 

 male). No. 48. 



30. Goosander. Mergus americanus (Cass.). (129) 



Synonyms: American Merganser, Shelldrakc, Fish Duck, Big Sawbill, Big Slielldrakc, 

 Greater Merganser, Buff -breasted Shelldrakc. — Mergus merganser, Wilson, 1S14, and most 

 writers. — Mergus americanus, Cass., 1853, Baird, 1858. — Merganser americanus A O 

 U. Check-list, 1895. > ■ ■ 



In full plumage the male is at once recognized by its dark green head 

 and neck, with short, bushy occipital crest, and under parts white more 

 or less shaded with salmon. The largest of the three species of "saw- 

 billed ducks. " 



Distribution. — North America generally, bi-ccding south in the United 

 States to Pennsylvania and the mountains of Colorado and California. 

 Bermuda. 



