— 77 — 



Length about 18 inches. Bill lead colour and swollen at 

 base ; tail feathers long, narrow, and very stiff ; top of head 

 and lower neck black ; forehead and sides of head white ; upper 

 breast and flanks chestnut with narrow black bars ; rump deep 

 chestnut ; upper parts paler brown with black bars. 



The female is much duller in coloration, and the young are 

 duller and more brownish grey. 



320. The Goosander. Mergus merganser Linna3us. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



On November 25, 1907, I saw a goosander on the flooded 

 country near the Giza Pyramids. This is the only time this 

 duck has been seen in this country, so far as I know. 



Length about 26 inches. The adult male has the head and 

 upper neck glossy dark green ; lower neck and under parts 

 pure white tinged with salmon pink ; upper back and scapulars 

 black ; shoulders white ,* lower back and tail ashy grey ; head 

 crested ; bill red. 



Female has a smaller crest, and the head and upper neck 

 are reddish brown ; chin white ; upper parts ash grey ; wing 

 bar white ; under parts huffish white. Young birds strongly 

 resemble the female. 



This and the following species have the bill long and narrow 

 with tooth-like serrations. 



321. Red-breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator Linnaeus. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 



Howard Saunders, " Manual of British Birds," 2nd edition, 

 page 473, states that this duck occurs in Egypt. 



Length about 24 inches. Adult male, bill and iris red. 

 Head and upper neck dark glossy green, below which is a white 

 incomplete collar ; back black. On each side of breast a tuft of 

 white feathers edged with black. Wing bar white barred with 

 black ; rump and flanks vermiculated with grey ; lower neck 

 pale chestnut streaked with black ; under parts white. 



The female is smaller and has a very distinct black bar on 

 the wing patch, and the head and neck are reddish brown. 

 Inimatures are somewhat like those of the goosander, but are 

 smaller and browner above. 



322. Smew. Mergus alhellus Linnaeus. 



Not mentioned by Shelley. 

 Apparently a rare visitor to Egypt, though I have examined 

 at least three examples from the country. 



