46 



5. Larus argentatus smithsonianus Coues. 

 AMERICAN HERRING GULL. 



' Gull blue ; part of wiugs, black. Length, 24 inches. 



Has occurred at rare intervals at Belchertown ponds. 



6. Merganser americanus (Cass.). 

 COMMON MERGANSER. GOOSANDER. 



Male: Head and neck, dark green; upper parts, mostly black; surface of 

 •wing, white. 



Female: Head and neck, reddish-brown; black of male replaced by 

 ashy-gray. Both sexes, more or less salmon tinted beneath. Length, 

 24-27 inches. 



Not uncommon on the Connecticut river dui'ing the 

 migrations. 



7. Merganser serrator (Linn.). 

 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Malk: Head and neck, dark green; above, black and gray ; breast, brown- 

 ish-red; belly, salmon-white. 



Female: Head and neck, grayish-chestnut; above, gray; beneath, white. 

 Length, 22-24 inches. 



Taken once on the Connecticut near Northampton. 



8. Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.). 

 HOODED MERGANSER. 



Male: Above, black; center of crest, white; beneath, white; sides, waved 

 with brownish. 



Female: Head and neck, grayish-chestnut; back and sides, dusky brown. 

 Length, 16-18 inches. 



Not rare on the Connecticut river, during the migrations. 



9. Anas obscura Gmel. 

 DUSKY DUCK. BLACK DUCK. 



Dusky-brown; spot on bend of wing, purple; iris brown. Length, 22 

 inches. 



Formerly abundant but now rather rare. Occasionally seen 

 •from the last of March uatil the middle of May and again in 



