A NA TIDJ^ — MER GIN.E : MER GA NSERS. 



949 



Fig. CG7. — Bill of Red-breasted Merganser, nat. size. (Ad. iiat. del. E. C.) 



Nest in a hole in a tree or cliff, or on the gronnd, down-lined; eergs G-10, elliptical, creamy 

 bnff, 2.75 X 2.00. (Mergus merganser of 2d-4th eds. of the Key ; M. americanus Cass. 1853; 

 Merganser americanus, A. 0. U. Lists, No. 129. As stated in the Key, the American differs 

 from the Enropean Merganser iu the evident black bar across the white area of the wing, and 

 in some other particulars.) 

 M. serra'tor. (Lat. serrafor, a sawyer. Fig. 667.) Red-brkasted Merganser. Red 



BREASTED GOOSANDEK or SHELDRAKE. SaLT-WATER ShELDRAKE. FiSHING DuCK. 



Saw-bill (with various other names, more or less shared with the foregoing species). Nos- 

 trils near base of bill. Frontal feathers extending obtusely on culmen, and not beyond those 

 on sides t)f upper mandible ; the loral swee{)ing forward convex beyond those on side of lower 

 mandible. A long, thin, pointed occipital and nuchal crest in botli sexes. Adult ^i Head 

 and upper neck all around splendid dark green as in the foregoing. A white ring almost mund 

 lower neck, but inter- 

 rupted behind by a dark 

 line. Under parts white, 

 more or less salmon- 

 tinged, fore breast 

 brownish -red streaked 

 vvitli dusky, sides finely 

 waved with dusky. A 

 white black - bordered 

 patch of broad feathers 

 in front of wing. Fore 

 back, interscapulars, and 

 long inner scapulars, 

 black ; middle and lower back gray, waved with whitish and dusky. Surface of wiiii; mostly 

 white, including outer scapulars ; inner secondaries edged on outer web with blaclv ; wing 

 crossed by two black bars at bases and just beyond ends of greater coverts. Bill carmine- 

 red, dusky on top; eyes carmine; feet bright red. Adult 9- Bill and feet duller colored; 

 head grayish-chestnut ; under parts wliite, shaded with ashy-gray along sides. Upper parts 

 plumbeous-gray, the feathers with paler edges ; white of M'iug restricted to a patch formed 

 by ends of greater coverts, and much of the outer secondaries; like the last, smaller than ^. 

 No peculiar feathers in front of wing. Length about 24.00; extent .'U. 00; wing 8.50-9.50; 

 tail 4.00; tarsus 1.(50; middle toe and claw 2.(i0; bill 2-20 on culmen, 2.(i0 on gape. Young 

 ^ resembles 9; both closely resemble M. (luiericamoi in plumage, but are smaller, and easily 

 distinguished by the positinn uf tlie nostrils and outline of tlie feathers on the bill. Nestlings 

 in down curiously patched : hair brown above witii a yellowish white mark on each side of 

 rump and alouiz; liiud border of wing ; lower ])arts dingy whitish ; sides of head and neck rusty, 

 witli jiale lores between two dusky stripes, and whitish eyelid. X. Am. at large, more numer- 

 ous than Goosander. U. S. al>undantly in winter, and breeding northerly in many places as 

 well as N. to Arctic regions; X. parts of Xortliern Ili-misphere. Xest on ground, down-lined, 

 often well concealed; eggs 0-12, oftener 8-10, elliptical, dull buH", 2.50 X ••05. 

 LOPHOD'YTES. (Gr. \6(i>o<:, lophos, a crest; Sur^s. (hites. a diver.) Charactei-s as civen 

 in the foregoinj; analysis. One species, the ^ of which is known at a glance by the el<'<jant 

 cre.st. (As subgenus of Mergus in all former eds. of the Key.) 



L. cuculla'tiis. (Lat. cticitllntiis, wearing a hooil. Fit,'. (itiS.) IIooi>ki> Mkug.anser. 

 IIooDKD Sheldrake. Little, W(1(id, Swamp, Pond, I'ickax. and Simmku Sheldrake. 

 Little Fishing Duck or S.wv-itn.i,. Koi-nd-crested Di'ck. Fan-ckestkd Dick. 

 "Wood Dick (a name sliand witli yEr spotisa.) Trek Dick. Simke-bill. IIaiky- 

 Hi.AD. .Mdss-iiiad. Tow-iii.AD. 'I'adpole. Snowl. Smew (a namt' properly belonging to 



