AN ATIN.E — THE DUCKS — MERG US. Ill 



have enlarged ovaries. He did not, however, meet with any of this species in the 

 neighborhood of Mazatlan. 



The specimen procured in Wisconsin was taken on Eock River, November, 1870. 

 Mr. L. Kumlien is confident that he has since met with one of these birds on Lake 

 Koskonong ; but he was not able to secure it. 



Genus MERG-US, Lixxjeus. 



Mergus, Linn. S. X. ed. 10, I. ]7~>s, 129 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 207 (type, Mergus merganser, Linn.). 



Char. Bill longer than the head, the breadth uniformly about equal to the depth, the serra- 

 tions conical, acute, ami pointed backward; crest occipital, pointed, or scarcely developed and 



depressed. Tarsus nearly three fourths the middle toe, with claw. Tail about half the length of 

 the wings. Bill mostly reddish. 



The two North American species "1 this genus may lie readily distinguished as follows, the 

 females alone resembling one another : 



1. M. merganser. Nostril situated near the middle of the maxilla ; frontal fathers extend- 

 ing farther forward than those on Literal base of bill. Adult malt : Head and most of 

 tin- neck greenish black ; lcc! scarcely crested; jugulum and other lower parts creamy 

 white, or pale salmon-color. Adult female: Head and neck reddish (chin and throat 

 white), the occiput with a full crest of lengthened leathers. Above, chief!} bluish gi ty. 

 a. Merganser. 1 Black bases of the greater wing-coverts entirely concealed by the over- 



1 Mergus merganser. 



Mergus merganser, I. inn. S. X. el. 10, I. 1758, 129; ed. 12, 1. 1706, 208. — Naum. Vog. 

 Deutschl. XII. 1S14, 356, pi. 326. 



Mergus rnbricapilla, Brunn. Orn. Bor. 1764, 22. 



Mergus castor, Linn. S. X. I. 1766, 209. — Keys. & Blas. Wirb. Eur. 88. — Grat, Gen. B. 

 III. 629; Cat. Brit. P.. 1S63, 20S. 



Merganser castor, Bonap. Comp. List. 1S3S. 59. -- Macgill. Man. II. 191. 



Merganser Sail, Leach, Syst. Cat 1816, 36. — Stkpii. Gen. Zool. XII. 1S24, 161, pi. 53. 



Mergusgulo, Scop. Ann. I. X. II. 1769, 69. 



Goosander, Yarr. Brit. B. ed. 2, 111. 395, I'm. ; ed. 3, III. 398, fig. 

 Had. Palsearctic Piegion. 



