BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 31 



clothed in a stiffish down, and swim at once. Among the ducks and Mergansers 

 marked sexual diversity in color is the rule ; the reverse is the case with swans and 

 geese. A noteworthy coloration of many species, especially of ducks, is the specu- 

 lum a. brightly-colored, generally iridescent area on the secondary quills. Most of 

 the species are migratory, particularly those of the northern hemisphere ; the flight 

 is performed in bauds, that seem to preserve discipline as well as companionship, 

 and with such regularity that no birds are better entitled to the claim of weather- 

 prophets." Cones' Key to North American Birds. 



SUBFAMILY MERGINJE. MERGANSERS. 

 THE MERGANSERS. 



The Mergansers, or Fishing Ducks, are probably the most common of all "wild 

 ducks" about our smaller streams and ponds during the winter season. Mergan- 

 sers can easily be recognized by the bill, which is long (two inches or more in 

 length), hooked, almost cylindrical, quite slender and furnished with saw-like teeth. 

 Like the Loons, Cormorants, etc., these birds, when swimming under the water, em- 

 ploy their wings in the same manner as when flying in the air. They subsist almost 

 exclusively on fish ; their flesh is dark colored, quite tough and unpalatable. Three 

 species of this subfamily are found in the United States, and all occur in Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



GENUS MERGANSER BRISSON. 

 Merganser americanus (CASS.)- 



American Merganser ; Goosander ; Fish-duck ; Sheldrake. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Nostrils large and situated about in middle of bill ; bill longer than head ; feathers 

 of forehead extend beyond those on sides of bill. Legs and bill chiefly red ; iris in 

 male carmine and in female reddish-yellow. 



Male. Head and upper part of neck very dark glossy-green ; head slightly 

 crested ; upper part of back black ; lower part of neck, breast and greater part of 

 wings (the latter crossed by black band) white ; under parts salmon-colored. 



Female, is somewhat smaller than male, and has a rather conspicuous occipital 

 crest ; head and neck reddish-brown ; upper parts ashy-gray ; lower parts similar 

 to male, but much paler. Length about 26 inches ; extent about 33 inches. 



Habitat. North America generally, breeding south to the northern United 

 States. 



This species, the largest of the Mergansers, is found generally through- 

 out the state as a common spring and fall migrant, and in winter it 

 occurs quite frequently in many parts of the state, particularly in the 

 southern counties. The American Merganser is the most abundant of 

 the three species inhabiting this region, and in former years it unques- 

 tionably bred regularly in various localities in Pennsylvania. Nuttall 

 gives an interesting account of the discovery of a female Merganser with 

 a brood of eight young, not larger than the egg of a goose, on the Sus- 

 quehanna river (Pa.) in May, 1832. In 1844 the Messrs. Baird* recorded 

 this species as breeding in Perry county, and in the ornithological re- 

 port of the late Judge Libhart, published about twelve or fifteen years 



* List of birds found In the vicinity of Carlisle. Cumberland county. Pa., by William M. and Spencer 

 F Baird. published April, 1844 ; American Journal Sciences and Arts, Vol. XL VI. Hereafter whenever 

 reference is made to the Baird List, it will apply to this publication. 



