4GO MERGUS MERGANSER. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the peculiar stiff tail feathers and short -coverts. Distributed in summer from Massachusetts, northward, 

 wintering in the South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 15-10; stretch, 23 - 25; wing, 5'75; tail, 2'98; bill, 

 T40; tarsus, 1'75. Longest specimen, 18-00; greatest extent of wing, 2i'00; longest wing, 6' 10; tail, 3 35; bill, 1'50; tarsus, 

 2-00. Shortest specimen, 14 SO; smallest extent of wing, 22'50: shortest wing, 5 40; tail, 2'60; bill, 1'30; tarsus, 1'50. 



HABITS. 



- On the marshes of Indian River, are little ponds, as I have before mentioned, varying 

 from ten to fifty yards in diameter, and many Ducks gathered in them to feed, but by far 

 the most common among them, was the little Ruddy. These birds were not only the most 

 abundant but were also much tamer than any other; indeed, it was difficult to force a flock 

 to leave a particular pond, even when shot at, as the survivors would merely rise, circle 

 about a moment, and then settle down again. They are exceedingly difficult to kill, be- 

 ing very tenacious of life, and when wounded, dive with the greatest ease, remaining un- 

 der water for a long time or, like other Ducks, will emerge in the overhanging grass on 

 the edge of the water, into which they creep for shelter. I found the Ruddy Ducks also 

 very common in Chesapeake Bay and they are not uncommon further north, in New Eng- 

 land. Mr. Ruthven Deane received some young which were unable to fly, from Cape Cod 

 some years since, thus it is probable that a few breed within the State, but the majority 

 pass northward to deposit their eggs. I have always found these birds very fat and, con- 

 trary to the rule with other Ducks, when capture in Florida, proved excellent eating. 



GENUS XVII. MERGUS. TIIE TOOTH-BILLED DUCKS. 



GEN. CH. Bill, lonyer than head, very slender, and furnished with horny Uimellce which point backward. Neck, quite 

 lony. 



Trachea, flattened and dilated in the middle, while the larynx of males is widely expanded and provided with a bony 

 frame-work. Head, more or less crested. Sexes, not similar. There are three species within our limits. 



MERGUS MERGANSER. 



Merganser. 

 Meryus meryanser LINN., Syst. Nat., I; 1766. 



DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, very large. COLOR. Adultmale. Head and upper neck all aroun-i, anterior back, srap- 

 ularies and tertiaries, black, glossed with green on first two and with purplish 6n the three last. Remainderof back, up- 

 per tail coverts, and rump, bluish-ash, the last finely banded with white. Primaries and tail, (J^rk-brown, with the latter 

 hoary. Secondaries, greater wing coverts, lower neck and entire under parts, w-hite, tinged with creamy on the two first 

 and with deep salmon on the last. Upper secondaries, grayish at tip which becomes black on outer edges, while there is a 

 black band on the white of wing. Iris, red, bill and feet, reddish-orange. Adult female. ( Head and upper neck, reddish- 

 brown. Remainder of upper parts, breast, sides, and flanks, bluish-ash with the feathers, especially of breast, edged with 

 whitish. Throat, patch on wing, and under parts not described, white, tinged with salmon. Youny, similar to female. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Easily recognized by the large size, white breast, and green gloss on head: the female by the deep red head and neck, 

 while the line of demarkation between this color and remainder of body is sharply defined. Distributed, in summer, from 

 Pennsylvania, northward; wintering in the South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 23 75;stretch, 35'50; wing, 10-35; tail, 4'73; bill, 

 T95; tarsus, T78. Longest specimen, 26-50; greatest extent of wing, 38-00; longestwing, U'OO; tail,4'85; bill, 2' 10; tarsus, 

 1 85. Shortest specimen, 2TOO; smallest extent of wing, :i3'00; shortest wing, 9'70; tail, 4'60; bill, 1'HO; tarsus, 1-70. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nests, placed in holes of trees, composed of grass, weeds, feathers, etc. Eyys, six to ten in number, oval in form 

 and palcrbuff in color. Dimensions from I'80x280 to I'70x2'50. 



HABITS. 



The Mergansers, or Shell-drakes, are more common in inland waters at all seasons 



