828 INDIAN DUCKS 



(48) MERGANSER SERRATOR. 



THE EED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Mergus serrator, Linn. S. N. x. ed. p. 129 (1758) (Sweden ; {Hume d 

 Marsh. Game-B. iii, p. 305; Hume. S. F. ix, p. 268; Barnes, B. of 

 Bom. p. 416. 



Mergus castor, Hwme, H. F. iv, p. 496 ; Butler, ibid. v. pp. 291, 323. 



Merganser serrator, Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii. p. 479; Blanford, 

 Avifauna B. I. iv, p. 470; Oates, Game-B. ii, p. 124; Stuart 

 Baker, J. B. N. H. S. xiii, p. 217 (1908); Nurse, ibid, xiv, p. 400: 

 Oates, Game-B. ii, p. 402 ; .S7((((// Baker, Indian Ducks, p. 281 (1908). 



Description. Adult Male. — Wliole head, crest, and a narrow line down 

 the nape of the neck hlack, the posterior part of the head and the crest 

 glossed gL'een ; neck white ; back black ; lower back, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts white and very dark brown in fine wavy lines ; the bases of the 

 feathers on the lower hack brown and showing a good deal; tail dark-grey, 

 edged paler. The primaries, three outer and innermost secondaries dark- 

 brown, the naxt white with black leases, and from these to the longest, white 

 with narrow black margins ; greater and median coverts white; edge of the 

 wing and smaller coverts brown ; breast rather rich rufous-brown, the 

 feathers more or less centred black ; the sides of the breast under 

 the shoulder of the wing black, with a patch of feathers white, merely 

 margined with black ; outer scapulars white, inner Ijlack. 



Colours of soft parts. — " In the male the bill varies from orange-red to 

 deep vermilion, is more or less dusky on the ridge, and has the nail varying 

 from pale yellowish-grey to almost black ; the feet vary similarly to the bill, 

 and are brighter externally, paler internally, and duller on the webs ; the 

 claws are light-grey, duller, and Ijrowner or redder, towards their bases." 

 {Hume.) 



Measurements. — " Length 24'0 to 26'0 inches, expanse 29'0 to 32'5, wing 

 9'0 to lO'O, tail from insertion of feathers 3'1 to 4'2, tarsus 1'8 to 2'05, bill 

 at front along culmen 2'4 to 2'5. Weight {Naumann) a little over 2 lbs." 



The above dimensions and colours of the soft parts are compiled by 

 Hume from different authors. 



Salvadori gives the total length as 21 inches, and the culmen 2'15, whilst 

 he states the tarsus to be only 1'5. 



Blanford gives the bill from gape as 2'75 inches. 



Adult Female. — -Lores and upper part of head and nock pale rufescent- 

 grcy, with darker centres to the feathers ; a faint supercilium dull rufescent- 



