758 Till". AMI'.I^KWX MERGANSER. 



No. 304. 



AMERICAN MERGANSP:R. 



A. ( ). r. Xi). ]2(). Mergus americanus C<iss. 



Synonyms. — ( idnsAXDKR. Sii Ki.hk aki:. Saw-iui.i.. Imsii DrcK. 



Description. — Jditlt male: Head and upper neck greenish l)lack, the hind- 

 neck loosely crested; upper hack, inner scajndars. and a jirominent short bar 

 formed by ex]iosed bases of greater coverts, black; the jiriniaries and their coverts 

 dusky : lower liack and tail ashy-gray ; neck all around, outer scapulars, most of 

 the wing cn\erts. speculum, and entire underparts white, the latter delicately 

 tinged with ])ale salmon (this generally fading to creamy-white in skins); 

 tertiaries white, bordered narrowly with black; flanks wavy-barred, ashy-gray and 

 white; Ijill and feet vermilion, the former Ijlack on ridge, with black hooked nail; 

 iris carmine. Adult female and immature: ^[ore conspicuously crested on hind- 

 head an(l nape; the head and upper neck dark cinnamon-brown, white on chin 

 and sides of throat: above ash\- blue-gray, with white speculum and black of 

 wings nuich as in male; underparts white, shaded on sides with color of back, and 

 fainth- tinged with salmon; bill red with du^ky ridge; feet chrome-yellow or 

 orange, with dusk)- webs; eyes yellnw. I.eiigth 23.00-27.00 (633-685.8); wing 

 10.75 1-7,^1': I'l'i 4--5 (108); bill 2.15 (54.6); bill from nostril 1.50 (38.I); 

 tarsus i.yo (4CS.3). Female averaging three or four inches shorter and ]5ropor- 

 tioned accordingly. 



Recognition Marks. — Alallard to Brant size; long, narrow bill with promi- 

 nent serratiiius un side; underparts white or pale salmon tinted; no rust_y or 

 ochraceous on breast; nostrils just within basal half of bill. Lovers of swift 

 waters ; river divers. 



Nesting. — Nest: occasionallv on the ground, more comnKmly in hole of tree 

 or stub, lined with moss, grasses, and feathers. Eggs: 6-i(). yellnwish or creamy 

 buff. Av. size. 2.65x1.80 (67.3x45.7). Season: c. May i st ; one bnuxl. 



General Range. — North America generally, breeding south in the L'nited 

 States to l'enns\lvania and the mountains of Colorado and California. 



Range in Washington. — Comnmn winter resident and migrant, less comnnin 

 summer rc-idenl ; found thruout the State but more abundant coastwise. 



Authorities. — Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. iS^S, p. ,'^14. (Ti. CiiS. 

 L-. Rh. I)'. Sr. Kk. 1',. E. 



Specimens. — ( L'. of W.) Prov. l'>. 



TMIi first glimpse of this sjilendid liird cxtv \'()uchsafed the writer was 

 upon the rock-bound shore nf thai matchless gem of mountain lakes. Chelan. 

 The l)ird had Ijeen surprised at the water's edge, and winged as he attempted 

 to rise. With inst;int ilecisinn he \'»>k tn iht water .-uid dove shar])ly. 

 When sonic twenlv feel deep, he Uu"ned and paralleleil ihe shore, intending 

 lo mak-e a landing at some distance and secrete himself among the rocks. Tt 

 was a rare sight front ni\' wantage point si ime fort}- feet Jiboxe. t<i watch tlie 



