204 MERGID.^. 



the white median coverts, thus forming the first black bar across the white of 

 the wing ; the secondaries are black, all, except the first three, very broadly 

 tipped with white ; tertiaries white, conspicuously margined with black, except 

 the last three, which are black ; axillaries pure white ; rest of the lower parts 

 white, with, in life, a beautiful salmon or buffy tinge which disappears in the 

 skin ; flanks white, vermiculated with greyish black ; middle and lower back, 

 rump and upper tail coverts white, with very delicate and close vermiculations 

 of dull black, producing a grey effect j tail dull brown; lower wing coverts 

 white. 



The feinale has the entire crown, occiput and crest brown with more or less 

 of a dull rufous or chestnut tinge, and rather]ashy towards the forehead ; sides 

 of the head and neck all round pale dull brownish chestnut ; chin white ; 

 throat albescent ; breast and entire lower parts white or pinkish white in life, 

 only at the base of the throat and crop the grey brown bases of the feathers 

 show through to a certain extent like hidden bars ; interscapulary region, 

 mantle, lower back, rump and upper tail coverts brown, most of the feathers 

 with paler margins ; quills dusky black ; secondaries and their greater coverts 

 black, all, but the first three, broadly tipped with white; tertiaries dusky 

 blackish, paling anteriorly, whitish towards the tip, the innermost mostly white, 

 with a black outer margin ; tail like the back. 



Both sexes from the above description resemble the Goosander, but may be 

 distinguished by their small 'size, and in proportion to their length much 

 thinner bills. {Eume, Sir, F. ix. p. 268,) 



In the male the bill varies from orange red to deep vermilion, is more or 

 less dusky on the edge, and has the nail varying from pale yellowish grey to 

 almost black. In young females there is more dusky on the upper mandible, 

 where the red is often only a lateral band. 



Length. — Males, 24*0 to 26-0 inches; expanse 29*0 to 32*5 ; wing g'O to 

 I0"0; tail from insertion of feathers 3*1 to 4*2 ; tarsus rS to 2-05 ; bill at 

 front along culmen 2*4 to 2'5. 



Length. — Females, 22"o to 23*5 ; expanse 28*0 to 3ro; wing 8-5 to 9-3; tail 

 27 to 3-6; tarsus i-66 to 1*83 ; bill at front 2'i to 2-3. {Str. F. ix. p. 268.) 



In a second specimen (the first obtained by Capt, Bishop at Manora, and 

 sent by me to Mr. Hume) now in the Kurrrachee Museum — male, the bill at 

 front is exactly 2-0 inches, tarsus r6, wing 8-37, tail 37, length 23*2, agrees 

 exactly with Mr. Hume's description as given above. 



i7a(5.— Sind. Mr. Hume says there is no other instance of its occurrence 

 in India. China, Mongolia, S. and S.-E. Siberia, Palestine and throughout 

 Europe; Scotland, Shetland, Sweden and Norway are given as localities out- 

 side of India. 



