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KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



ORDER ANSERES. 



Lamellirostral Swimmers. 



Famiia- ANATID.E. Ducks, Geese, and Swans. 

 Subfamily MERGIN^^. Mergansers. 



Fish=eating ducks having narrow bills with tooth=like serrations on edges. 

 Genus MERGANSER Brisson. 



Merganser americamis (male,). 



Merganser aniericanus (female). 



MERGANSER AMERICANUS (Cass.). 

 American Merganser. 



jldiilt male : ISill red, lon.<;- and narrow, with tooth-like serration.s ; head and neck greenish 

 black : under parts creamy white tinged with salmon color ; tail gray : feet red. 



Length, 26.50; \\'ing. ii : Tarsus. 2 ; liill, 2.10. 



Adult female : Upper throat white ; breast and head rufous brown: l)elly white : speculum 

 white ; feet orange. 



Length, 24.50; Wing, 9.75: Tarsus, 1.90: Bill. 2. 



The distance from the nostril to the tip of the bill is less than 1.50 inches in this species, and 

 the female may lie distinguished from the next species, vi^., Red-breasted Merganser, by this 



