246 AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



AMERICAN MERGANSER. 



A. O. U. No. 139. Olerganser americauus.) 



RANGE. 



Found throughout North America. Breeds from the middle of the 

 United States northwards. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Length from 24 to 27 in. The female generally measuring an inch 

 or two shorter than the male. Adult male; — Bill and feet- vermillion, 

 the former with a black tip. Eye carmine. Entire head and upper 

 part of neck, a beautiful glossy green. Entire under parts white with 

 a delicate salmon blush. Flanks washed with gray and waved slight- 

 ly with dark gray. Back and scapulars black, shading to an ashy 

 gray on the rump and tail. Primaries black. Most of the secondaries 

 white, the inner ones having black edges. Wing coverts white, the 

 greater ones having black bases, which form a black bar across the 

 large white surface of the wing. Female; — Bill, red; Eye, yellow; Feet, 

 orange. Fully as imposing and handsome bird as the male. Head 

 with a long crest while the male has practically none. Head and neck 

 reddish brown, leaving a white patch on the throat, and terminating 

 abruptly against the white of the under parts as does the green neck 

 of the male. The salmon color is present, but less distinct than in the 

 male. Back, rump, tail, scapulars, and lesser wing coverts gray, most 

 of the feathers having black shafts. Primaries and outer secondaries 

 black. Middle secondaries and greater coverts white, the latter hav- 

 ing black bases and gray tips forming an indistinct narrow bar across 

 the white patch. Male and female have both mandibles serrated or 

 toothed and the upper one with a very decided hook at its tip. 



NEST AND EGGS. 



