296 ANATIDZ®, MERGANSERS. —GEN. 271-2. 
Oss. The smew, or white nun, Mergellus albellus, of Europe, has been attributed 
to N. Am. upon insufficient evidence, though very possibly occurring. WILS., Vili, 
126, pl. 71, f. 4; Norr., ii, 467; Avp., vi, 408, pl. 414; Bop., 817. 
271-2. Genus MERGUS Linneus. 
* Bill not shorter than head, mostly red. (Mergus.) ; 
Merganser. Goosander. Fish Duck. Nostrils nearly median; frontal 
feathers reaching beyond those on sides of bill; g with the head scarcely 
crested, glossy green; back and wings black and white, latter crossed by 
one black bar; under parts salmon-colored ; about 24; wing 11;. 9 smaller; 
occipital crest better developed, but still flimsy ; head and neck reddish- 
brown; black parts of the ¢ ashy-gray; less white on the wing; under parts 
less tinted with salmon. N.Am., common. Wrts., viii, 68, pl. 68, f. 1, 2; 
Nurt., ii, 460; Aup., vi, 387, pl. 411; 1. americanus Bp., 813. MERGANSER. 
Red-breasted Mer- 
ganser. Fish Duck. 
Nostrils  sub-basal ; 
frontal feathers not 
reaching beyond those 
on sides of bill; along 
thin pointed crest in 
both sexes. Smaller 
than the last; wing 
8-9; general color- 
ation, and sexual differences, the same, but the ¢ with the jugulum rich 
reddish-brown, black-streaked, the sides conspicuously finely waved with 
black, a white, black-bordered mark in front of the wing, and the wing 
crossed by two black bars.. N. Am., abundant. Wauts., viii, 91, pl. 69, f. 
2; ‘Norv., ii,'463; Aup., vi,-395,, pl. 412; Bp.5-814. 9. 1. “sHRRATons 
** Bill shorter than head, mostly or entirely black. (Lophodytes.) 
Hooded Merganser. Nostrils sub-basal; frontal feathers reaching beyond 
those on sides of bill; a compact, erect, semicircular, laterally compressed 
crest in the g¢, smaller and less rounded in the 9; ¢g black, including two 
crescents in front of wing, and “bar across speculum; under parts, centre of 
crest, speculum, and stripes on tertials, white; sides chestnut, black-barred ; 
18-19; wing 8; @ smaller; head and neck brown; chin whitish ; back and 
sides dark brown, the feathers with paler edges; white on the wing less ; bill 
reddish at base below. N.Am., common. Wits., viii, 79, pl. 69, f. 1; 
Nurr., ii,465;° Aup., vi,.402, pl. 413;-Bp.,.816. ...+ . eUGUBEATUBS 
Fic. 195. Red-breasted Merganser, with outline of bill from above. 
Order STEGANOPODES. Totipalmate Birds. 
Feet totipalmate, with three full webs; hind toe semi-lateral, larger and lower 
down than in other water birds, connected with the inner toe by a complete web 
reaching from tip to tip. Nostrils minute, rudimentary or entirely abortive. A 
gular pouch. Bill not membranous nor lamellate, but tomia sometimes serrate. 
