324 APPENDIX. 
dark brown ; secondaries lighter brown, their coverts 
black ; a semicircular band of black on the fore part 
of the back; the outer two tail feathers white—the 
rest marked with brown, excepting the four acu- 
minated feathers, which are blackish-brown, the 
middle pair extending several inches beyond the 
others. Female without the long scapulars or elon- 
gated tail feathers; bill dusky-green; head dark, 
greyish-brown—a patch of greyish-white on the 
sides of the neck ; crown blackish ; upper parts dark 
greyish-brown; lower parts white. Length of male 
from the point of the bill to the end of the elongated 
tail feathers twenty-three inches; wing eight inches 
and five-eighths. Female about six inches less in 
length. | 
This bird is abundant along the coast, but is 
generally tough and fishy. 
MERGANSER. 
Genus Mergus, Linn. 
Generic Distinctions.—Bill straight, higher than 
broad at base; much smaller towards the end ; upper 
mandible hooked; teeth sharp; head rather large, 
compressed ; body rather long, depressed ; plumage 
very thick; feet placed far behind; wings moderate, 
acute ; tail short, rounded. 
