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RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, SHELDRAKE. 

 Merganser serrat or (Linn.). 



The adult male has the head greenish-black, with 

 some metallic reflections of violet and purple. The 

 crest is a ragged one, chiefly on the back of the head ; 

 the feathers are irregular, but few of them being long. 

 There is a well-marked white collar around the upper 

 neck, below the black. The lower neck and breast are 

 pale pinkish brown, streaked with black from above 

 downward. The back and inner scapulars are black ; the 

 lower back and rump, grayish, waved with black and 

 white; the tail grayish-brown. The wing is chiefly 

 white, crossed by two black bars. The primaries are 

 brownish-black, and the outer webs of the inner secon- 



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