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The female has the head and neck 

 for the most part reddish brown ; back 

 greyish brown, otherwise Hke the male. 



The male assumes the plumage of the 

 female in June and retains it until the 

 Autumn. 



Distribution. — Europe and Asia. It 

 is a Winter visitant and fairly common 

 in the Yangtse Valley. It is usually 

 found singly or with the smaller ducks 

 on the inland pools and marshes. 



MERGANSEE. 



MEBGUS MERGANSER L. 



(Mergus Castor L.) 



Description. — Length twenty six to 

 twenty seven inches. Bill long, narrow, 

 hooked, serrated, and vermilion in 

 color. Legs red. Iris carmine red. 



Male. — Head and neck black with 

 decided greenish reflections, and with 

 a short crest. Breast with a rosy 

 flush, lower down white. Upper back 

 black, lower back grey. Primaries 

 black, secondaries and tertials white 

 bordered with black. Greater wing 

 coverts grey tipped with orange, lesser 

 ones white. 



Female has head and neck reddish 



brown. A longer crest. Breast grey, 



back dark blue grey. Lesser wing 

 coverts grey. 



This is the largest of the Mergansers 

 and may be distinguished by the white 

 secondary quills with completely con- 

 cealed dark bases on the outer webs. 



Distribution. — Ciranuipokir -a»^ 

 V/idely distributed over N^-th Am » 

 *ie», Europe and Asia. A Winter 

 visitant and quite common in the 



