302 A.MERICA]Sr GAME BIRD SHOOTING. 



bill that is tipped with orange. The wings have a patch 

 of white; the iris is white, and there is a spot under the 

 eye. The female is sooty-black, aud has the white 

 patches on the wing. 



The surf duck, or sea coot {(Edemia perspicillata), is 

 common on the Atlantic Coast, its place on the Pacific 

 being occupied by the Trowbridge yariety, which differs 

 from it a little in markings. Both have a bill which is 

 much swollen at the sides, as well as at the base of the 

 upper mandible. This bill is orange-red in color, and 

 white at the sides, except where it is broken by a black 

 circular spot at the base below. The male is black, but 

 has a white patch on the forehead and the top of the 

 head. The female is darkish- brown, and has white 

 patches before and behind the eye. Large numbers of 

 these birds are shot from boats by some sportsmen on the 

 Atlantic Coast, when they commence their southern mi- 

 grations in autumn. They arrive from the north in 

 flocks which might be estimated at thousands, and from 

 that time forth they are lawful prey to all who wish to 

 waste ammunition on them, for their flesh is neither ten- 

 der nor palatable. 



The mergansers, which are distinguished from all their 

 kindred by having a round, toothed-bill, instead of a flat 

 one, are very common all over the Continent. 



The goosander, or fish duck {Mergus merganser), has a 

 green, puffy head; the back and wings are black and white, 

 and the under parts are salmon-colored. The upper parts 

 of the female are gray, mixed with some white; the neck 

 and head are reddish-brown, and she has a small crest. 



The sheldrake, or red-breasted merganser {M. serrator), 

 approaches the preceding in general color, but the breast 

 is reddish, streaked with black; the sides are undulated 

 with black; the wings are crossed by two black bars, and 

 have a whitish mark in front of them. Both sexes have 

 a slight crest, and are smaller than the goosanders. 



