244 MERGUS CUCULLATUS. 



tertials, long 1 , Mark, and streaked down the middle 

 with white; the blark on the back curves handsomely 

 round in two points on the bn-a-st, which, with the 

 whole lower parts, arc jmrc white; >irlc<, under the 

 wings and flanks, reddish brown, beautifully crossed 

 with parallel lines of black; tail, pointed, consisting of 

 twenty feathers of a sooty brown ; lejs and feet, flesh 

 coloured ; claws, large and stout. The windpipe has a 

 gmall labyrinth. 



The female is rather less, the crest smaller, and of a 

 light rust or dull ferruginous colour, entirely destitute 

 of the white ; the upper half of the neck, a dull drab, 

 with semicircles of lighter, the white on the wings is 

 the same as in the male, but the tertials are shorter and 

 have less white; the bark is blackish brown; the rest 

 of the plumage corresponds very nearly with the male. 



This species is peculiar to America; is said to arrive 

 at Hudson's Bay about the end of May ; builds dose to 

 the lakes; the nest is composed of grass, lined with 

 feathers from the breast ; is said to lay six white eggs. 

 The young are yellow, and fit to fly in July. * 



287. MEROUS 8EB1UTOB, LINNAEUS AND WILSON. 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 

 WILSON, PLATE LXIX. FIG. II EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS is much more common in our fresh waters 

 than the preceding, and is frequently brought to the 

 Philadelphia market from the snores of the Delaware. 

 It is an inhabitant of both continents. In the United 

 States, it is generally migratory; though a few are 

 occasionally seen in autumn, but none of their i 

 have as yet come under my notice. They aU frequent 

 the sea shore, keeping within the bays and estuaries 

 of rivers. They swim low in the water, and, when 

 wounded in the wing, very dexterously contrive to 



* HUTCHINS, as quoted by Latham. 





