324 APPENDIX. 



dark brown ; secondaries lighter brown, their coverts 

 black ; a semicircular band of black on the fore part 

 of the back ; the outer two tail feathers white the 

 rest marked with brown, excepting the four acu- 

 minated feathers, which are blackish-brown, the 

 middle pair extending several inches beyond the 

 others. Female without the long scapulars or elon- 

 gated tail feathers ; bill dusky-green ; head dark, 

 greyish-brown a patch of greyish-white on the 

 sides of the neck ; crown blackish ; upper parts dark 

 greyish-brown ; lower parts white. Length of male 

 from the point of the bill to the end of the elongated 

 tail feathers twenty-three inches ; wing eight inches 

 and five-eighths. Female about six inches less in 

 length. * 



This bird is abundant along the coast, but is 

 generally tough and fishy. 



MERGANSER. 



Gemis M&rgus, Linn. 



Generic Distinctions. Bill straight, higher than 

 broad at base ; much smaller towards the end ; upper 

 mandible hooked; teeth sharp; head rather large, 

 compressed ; body rather long, depressed ; plumage 

 very thick ; feet placed far behind ; wings moderate, 

 acute ; tail short, rounded. 



