AMERICAN MERGANSER. 



Merganser americanus (Cass.), 



The adult has the head and upper neck greenish- 

 black, with brilliant metallic reflections, the head being 

 puffy and the feathers slightly longest on the back of 

 the head. The back is black, fading to ashy-gray on 

 the rump and upper tail-coverts. The primaries and 

 secondaries are black, but the rest of the wing is chiefly 

 white, crossed by a black bar. The under parts are 

 white, tinged with salmon color, rosy or pinkish, which 

 does not last long after death. In old skins, the breast 

 feathers often become barred with ashy. The tail is 

 ashy-gray, with bill, eyes and feet bright red. Length 

 about 26 inches. 



226 



