76o THE RED-r.REASTED MERGANSER. 



No. 305. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



A. ( ). I'. .\(i. 130. Mergus serrator Einii. 



S\non>Tns. — 1\i;ii-1'.ki:astkii Sii iu.drakic. Sina.i.nRAKi;. Saw-bii.l. 



Description. — .liiiilt iinilr: I lead all arouinl black, with a greenish gloss on 

 sides aliinc: a Incise crest from crown to nape: middle of neck all around white: 

 lower neck all amnnd ( narrowly and impnrely behind I and fore-breast, cinnamcji)- 

 rufous streaked with black: sides of breast, npper back, and inner scapulars 

 black: a tuft of enlarged feathers on sides of breast before wing, each feather 

 white, bordered completely with black; wing-coverts, oiUer scapulars, speculum, 

 and iinier secondaries wdiite, the last Ijlack-edged ; two narrow transverse black 

 bars formed by exposed bases of greater coverts and secondaries : primary-coverts, 

 outer secondaries, and primaries blackish: sides and around on rum]) heavily 

 wavy-barred, black and white; lower back and tail ashy gray, more or less s])eckled 

 or wavy-barred on tips with black and whitish; lower breast, belly, and crissum 

 wdiite, usnallv tinged with ])ale salmon or cream color; bill narrower than in 

 preceding species; l)ill and feet bright red, the former with dusky ridge: eyes 

 carmine. . Idiilt female and iiniuatityc: Similar to those of preceding species, but 

 head duller, grayish chestnut; white of wing without black bars: position of 

 nostrils distinctive: bill and feet duller-colored. Length 20.00-23.00 (508-635); 

 wing o.')0 (243.8); tail ;^.2^ (82.6); bill 2.20 (55-0): bill from nostril 1.75 

 (44.5) : tarsus 1.75 (44.3). I'cmale somewdiat smaUer than male. 



Recognition Marks. — Mallard size: narrow serrated bill; head loosely 

 crested; reddish of breast and sides wavy-barred black antl white, specifically dis- 

 tinctive for male, h'emales of this species cannot be told oiu of hand from those 

 of .1/. aiiicricaiiiis. In hand the nostril within basal third of bill (as distinguished 

 from nostril just wdthin basal half for ,1/. aiiu-ricainis ) is diagnostic. River divers. 



Nesting. — Nest: on the ground uuiler logs, brush, rocks, and the like, near 

 water; lined with leaves, moss, and feathers. Bggs: 6-12, creamy bufif or dull 

 bu(i'\- green. Av. size, 2.36x1.7(1 ((13 x 44.7). Season: April 20-May 10: one 

 brooil. 



General Range. — Northern portions of the northern hemisphere: south in 

 winter thruout the United States; breeding northerly in the I'nited States anil in 

 the mountains of the West. 



Range in Washington. — Common resident on streams and lakes thruout the 

 State: more common winter resident and migrant on Pnget Sound. 



Authorities. — [Lewis and Clark, Hist. Kx. ( 1814) Ed. Biddle: Coues, Vol. 

 IL p. iQvl Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Siu'v. IX. 1838, p. 813. C&S. Rh. D'. Kb. D^ 

 Kk. B. E. 



Specimens. — I', of W. 1'rov. RN. 



SWIMMING is the way of n.ntine and lining a slowly acquired art for 

 the Shelldrakes. The adults, indeed, are capable of rising quickly and flying 

 with great rapidity at a considerable height, but oftener they palter over tlie 



