194 The IVafer-fowl Family 



of his plumage. In the spring the American 

 merganser is fond of the smaller rivers and 

 streams, swimming through the rapids without 

 hesitation, diving for his food in the pools. We 

 get our last glimpse of him in April. Other names 

 for this species are American sheldrake, pond 

 sheldrake, goosander, saw-bill, breakhorn, and 

 fisherman. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 

 (Aferganser serra(or) 



Adult male — Head and occipital crest of lengthened feathers, dark 

 glossy green with purple reflections ; neck immediately below, 

 white in the form of a collar with a black streak posteriorly ; 

 upper part of breast, buff streaked with black ; under parts, 

 white ; back and inner scapulars, glossy black ; lower back and 

 rump, gray with black and white mottling ; primaries, dark 

 brown ; wing, mostly white crossed by two black bars ; on the 

 sides of the breast, in front of shoulder, is a patch of white 

 feathers, bordered with black ; flanks, finely barred with lines 

 of gray and black ; tail, dark gray ; bill, carmine with dusky cul- 

 men ; nail, yellowish ; legs and feet, red ; iris, reddish orange or 

 carmine. The distance from nostril to nearest feather on head 

 less than the height of bill at base in both sexes. This is a 

 point of certain distinction between this and the preceding 

 species. 



Measurements — Length, 22.50 inches; wing, 8.70 inches; tail, 4 

 inches; tarsus, 1.80 inches; culmen, 2.40 inches. 



Adult female — Head, neck, and crest, cinnamon-brown ; throat and 

 lower parts, white; sides, gray; upper parts, dark gray edged 

 with pale gray, feathers with darker shafts ; white patch on the 

 wing divided by a black bar ; bill, legs, and feet, reddish brown ; 

 iris, brown. 



Measurements — Length, 20 inches; wing, 8.50 inches; tarsus, 1.50 

 inches ; culmen, 2.20 inches. 



