1)8 MERGUS MERGANSER. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the peculiar stiff tail featliers and short coverts. Distributed in summer from Massachusetts, northward, 

 winterint; in tlie South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 1.5-10; stretch, 23'25; wing, .')'75; tail, 2-98; bill, 

 1-40; tarsus, 1-75. Longest specimen, 16-00; greatest extent of wing, 24-00; longest wing, 6-10: tail,3-.'{5; bill, 1-50; tarsus, 

 2-00. Shortest specimen, 14-20; smallest extent of wing, 22-50; shortest wing, 5-40; tail, 2-60; bill, 1-30; tareus, ISO. 



HABITS. 

 On the marshes of Indian River, are little ponds, as I have before mentioned, varying 

 from ten to fifty yards in diameter, and many Ducks gathered in them to feed, but by far 

 the most conimon among tliem, was the little Ruddy. Tliese birds were not only the most 

 abundant but were also much tamer than any other; indeed, it was diOicult to force a flock 

 to leave a particular pond, even when shot at, as the survivors wouhl merely rise, circle 

 about a moment, and then settle down again. They are exceedingly difhcult to kill, be- 

 ing very tenacious of life, and when wounded, dive with the greatest ease, remaining uur 

 der water for a long time or, like other Ducks, will emerge in the overhanging grass on 

 the edge of the water, into wliich they creep for shelter. I found the Ruddy Ducks also 

 very common in Chesapeake Bay and they are not uncommon further north, in New Eng- 

 land. Mr. Rnthven Deane received some young which were unable to fly, from Cape Cod 

 some years since, thus it is probable that a few breed within the State, but the majority 

 pass northward to deposit their eggs. I have always found these birds very fat and, con- 

 trary to the rule with other Ducks, when capture in Florida, proved excellent eating. 



GENUS XVII. MERGUS. THE TOOTH-BILLED DUCKS. 



Gen. Cn. Bi/I, lonijer than head, very slender, and furnished with horyiy lamellcB which puini backward. Neck, quite 

 lony. 



Trachea, flattenei'i and dilai.ed in the middle, while the larynx of males is widely expanded and provided with a bony 

 frame-wurk. Head, more or less crested. Sexes, not similar. There are three species within our limits. 



MERGUS MERGANSER. 



Merganser. 



Meryus meryanscr LiN.v., Syst. Nat., I; 1766. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cii. Form, robust. Size, very large. Color. Adull male. Head and u]ipcr neck all around, anterior back, s(-.ip- 

 nlaries and tertiarics, )>lack. glossed wilh green on first two and with purplish on the three last. Ri'mainderofback, up- 

 per tail c )vei-ts, .and rump. blais!i-asl\, the last finely banded with white. Primaries and tail, dark-brown, with the latter 

 hoary. Sscondaries, greater wing coverts, lower neck and entire under parts, white, tinged with creamy on the two first 

 and with deep salmon on t'^e last. L'pper .second-.iries, grayish at tip whicli becomes black on outer edges, wliilethcre isa 

 black band on the white of wing. Iris, red,billand feet, reddish-orange. Adult female. Head and upper neck, rcddish- 

 bvown. Remainder of upper parts, breast, sides, and flanks, bluish-ash with the feathers, especially of brca.st, edged with 

 whitish. Tliroat, patch on wing, and under parts not described, white, tinged with salmon. Yuuny, simil.ir to female. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily reeoiinized by the large size, white breast, and green gloss on head: the female by the deep red head and nn-k, 

 while the line of dcmarkation between this color and remainder of body is sharply defined. Distributed, in summer, from 

 I'enn'-ylvania, nortliward; wintering in the Soutli. 



DBIENSIONS. 

 Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 23 75; stretch, 35-50; wing, 10-35; tail, 4-73; bill, 

 1-95; tarsus, 1-78. Longest specimen, 26-50; greatest extent of wing, 38-00; longest wing, 11 00; tail.4-83; bill,2- 10; tai-sus, 

 1 85. Shortest specimen, 2109; smallest extent of wing, 33-00; shortest wing, 970; tail, 4-60; bill, PHO; tarsus, 1-7(1. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed in hole- of trees, composed of grass, weeds, featliers, etc. Eyys, six to ten in number, oval in fovra 

 and pale-buff in .•,il,ir. Dimensions from 180x2 80 to 1-70x2-50. 



HABIL'S. 

 The Mergansers, or Shell-drakes, are more common in inland waters at all season.s 



