Vol-XJOCIIIj TowNSEND, Courtship of Ducks. 11 



bird which is regarded by many authors as identical with M. 

 amcricanus ^ correspond very closely to my own observations 

 which now follow: 



A group of five or six male Mergansers may be seen swimming 

 energetically back and forth by three or four passive females. 

 Sometimes the drakes swim in a compact mass or in a file for six 

 or seven yards or even farther, and then each turns abruptly and 

 swims back. Again they swim in and out among each other, and 

 every now and then one with swelling breast and slightly raised 

 wings spurts ahead at great speed by himself or in the pursuit of a 

 rival. The birds suggest swift motor boats by the waves which 

 curl up on either side, and by the rapidity with which they turn 

 and swash around. Again they suggest polo-ponies, as one in 

 rapid course pushes sidewise against a rival, in order to keep him 

 away from the object of the quest. They frequently strike at each 

 other with their bills, and I have seen two splendid drakes rise up 

 in the water breast to breast, and, amid a great splashing, during 

 which it was impossible to see details, fight like game-cocks. The 

 pursuit is varied by sudden, momentary dives and much splashing 



of water. 



The smooth iridescent green heads, the brilliant carmme bills 

 tipped with black nails, the snowy white of flanks and wing patches 

 and the red feet, which flash out in the dive, make a wonderful 

 color effect, contrasting well with the dark water and white ice. 

 The smaller females with their shaggy brown heads, their neat 

 white throat-bibs, their quaker blue-gray backs and modest wmg 

 patches, which are generally hidden, are fitting foils to their mates. 

 I have reserved for the last the mention of the delicate salmon 

 yellow tint of the lower breast and the beUy of the male, a colora- 

 tion of which he is deservedly proud, for, during courtship, he 

 frequentlv raises himself up almost on to his tail with or without a 

 flapping of the wings and reveals this color, in the same way that 

 the Eider displays his jet black shield. Most of the time he keeps 

 his tail cocked up and spread, so that it shows from behind a white 

 centre and blue border. Every now and then he points his head 

 and closed bill up at an angle of forty-five degrees or to the zenith. 

 Again he bows or bobs his head nervously and often at the same 

 time tilts up the front of his breast from which flashes out the salmon 



