252 WATER FOWL. 



on the sea-coast, when engaged in his favorite pastime of 

 shooting over decoys, and while prized by some, is not 

 considered by many as an especially desirable addition 

 to the game bag. The male, however, is one of the 

 handsomest Ducks in our country, and with his glossy 

 metallic head and crest, and variegated body, presents 

 a very brave appearance as he swims proudly along by 

 his mate under the bright sun of the early spring. 



MERGANSER SERRATOR. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern portions of both hemi- 

 spheres. In winter throughout the United States. Breeds from 

 the northern States to the Aleutian Islands. 



Male. — Head and occipital crest of lengthened hair-like 

 feathers, black, with green and purple reflections, the former 

 predominating. A broad white ring around the neck beneath 

 the black, with a narrow black line crossing it at back. Back 

 and inner scapulars, black. Lower back and rump, gray, mot- 

 tled with black and white. Primaries, blackish brown. Wing, 

 mostly white, crossed by two black bars, formed by the bases of 

 the secondaries and greater coverts. Outer webs of inner sec- 

 ondaries, edged with black. In front of the shoulder of the wing 

 is a patch of white feathers narrowly bordered with black. 

 Lower neck and upper part of breast, pale cinnamon, or dark 

 brownish buff, streaked with black. This conspicuous band 

 varies in depth of coloration among individuals. Flanks, irregu- 

 larly barred with narrow lines of grayish white and black. Rest 

 of under surface, white, suffused with a salmon tinge. Tail, 

 grayish brown, lighter on edges of webs. Bill, carmine, with 

 the culmen dusky; nail, yellowish. Legs and feet, orange red. 

 Iris, carmine. Average total length, about 22^ inches; wing, S^'^,,; 

 tail, 4; tarsus, i^^; culmen, 2y*„. Distance from nostril to nearest 

 feather on head less than height of bill at base, in both sexes. 



Female. — Top of head and crest, fuscous; sides of head and 

 neck, brownish buff' or pale cinnamon. Upper parts, dark gray- 

 ish, inclining to a brownish hue. White patch on the wing, 

 divided by a black bar formed by the bases of the secondaries. 

 Throat, white; lower neck, gray. Under parts, white, tinged 



