BIRDS OF KANSAS. 49 



ORDER ANSERES. 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS. 



"Lamellirostral swimming birds, with straight bills, short legs (always 

 shorter than the wing), the tibiae usually completely feathered, and scarcely 

 free from the body; hallux well developed, though usually small, never absent. 

 Reproduction prsecocial, and young ptilopsedic; eggs numerous and unmarked, 

 with a hard, usually very smooth, shell. 



"Like the Ondontoglossce, the order Anseres is composed of a single family, 

 which, however, includes a very numerous genera and species. The order is 

 represented in every portion of the globe, but most numerously in the northern 

 hemispheres." 



FAMILY ANATID.33. DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS. 

 "Characters the same as those of the order." 



SUBFAMILY MERGING. MERGANSERS. 



Neck shorter than the body. Tarsus shorter than middle toe with claw. 

 Lower mandible without trace of lamellae along the side, but with a series of 

 distinct, tooth-like serrations along the upper edge. (Ridgway.) 



GENUS MERGANSER BRISSON. 



"Bill longer than the head, the breadth uniformly about equal to the depth, 

 the serrations conical, acute, and pointed backward; crest occipital pointed, or 

 scarcely developed and depressed. Tarsus nearly three-fourths the middle toe 

 with claw. Tail about half the length of the wings. Bill mostly reddish." 



Merganser americanus (CASS.). 



AMERICAN MERGANSER. 

 PLATE IV. 



Winter sojourner; quite common. Leave the last of Feb- 

 ruary to middle of March. Return late in the fall. 



B. 611, R. 636. C. 743. G. 300, 20. U. 129. 



HABITAT. The whole of North America; breeding chiefly 

 north of the United States, but occasionally in the mountain 

 regions south to Arizona. 



SP. CHAR. "Adult male: Head and upper half (or more) of the neck deep 

 black, the elongated feathers of the pileum and nape distinctly, other portions 

 faintly, glossed with greenish; whole back and inner scapulars deep black; 



