112 



I-AMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



2. 



lyinj; Iwitliers. Male: Wiiij,', 10.70-11.00 inches ; culinon, 2.05-2.30 ; tnmis, 1.90-2.00; 

 niiiKlle toe, 2.3.")-2.(iO. Female: Wiiij,', 9.75-10.25 iucLus ; culuieii, 1.80-1.90; tarsus, 

 1.(55-1.80 ; middle toi', 2.35. JIab. I'lda'arctic Region. 

 /3. Amcricanus. Black bases of the greater wing-coverts exposed, so as to form a distinct 

 bar about half way across the wing. Male: Wing, 10.00-11.2t. inches; culnien, 1.90- 

 2.20 ; tarsus, 1.9lV2.(K) ; middle toe, 2.40-2.50. Femik : Wing, 9.60-9.75 inches; cul- 

 nien, 1.80-2.(K) ; tarsus, 1.85-1.90 ; middle too, 2.25-2.40. Hub. North America. 

 M. serratur. Nostril situated near the base of the ma.villa ; feathers on lateral base of bill 

 extending liirther forward thati those on the forehead. Adult male: Head dull greenish 

 black, the occiput with a long pointed crest of narrow feathers ; neck and sides of the 

 jnguluni dull bull', or light cinnamon, streaked with black; other lower parts mainly 

 white. Adult female : Very similar in color to that of M. vwganser, hut distinguished 

 by dilferent po.sition of the nostrils, and diiferent outline of the feathering at base of the 

 bill. Size also smaller. Ilab. North America and Palajarctic Region. 



li. ■■ 



Mergus merganser americanus. 



THE BnFF-BBEASTED SHELBBAEE. 



Meiyus merganser, Wils. Am. Oiii. Vlll. 1814, 68, pi. 68. — Sw. i Uicn. F. H. A. 11. 1831, 401.— 



Nirrr. Man. 11. 1834, 460. — Arn. Oni. Biog. IV. 1838, 261, pi. 331 ; Syiiop. 1839, :ilt7 ; H. 



Am. VI. 1843, 387, pi. 411. — C'oue.s, Key, 1872, 296; Cheek List, 1873, no. 521 ; 2J ed. 1882, 



no. 743 ; B. N. W. 1874, 58i5. 

 MrnjHs amcrieauu.i, Cass. Pr. Ac Nut. Sci. Thilad. 1853, 187. — Baiiu), B. N. Am. 1858, 813 ; Cat. 



N. Am. B. 1859, no. 611. 

 Mei-gus eastor, a. amerieauus, Bos.\r. Conipt. Bond. XLIII, 1856, 652. 

 Mergus merganser amerieanus, Itiuow. Proc. U. S. Nat. Vol. 3, 1880, 205 ; Norn. N, Am. B. 1881, 



no. 636. 



J.}' 



Had. The whole of North America, breeding south to the Northern United States. No 



extralimitiil record except Bermudas. 



Adult male : Head and upper half (or more) of the neck deep black, the elongated feathers of 



the pileuni and nape distinctly, other portions faintly, glossed with greenish ; whole back and 



inner scapulars, deep black ; 

 rumj), ui)per tail-coverts, and 

 tail, plain cinereous ; sides of 

 the cri.ssum (anteriorly) and 

 femoral region, whitish, nar- 

 rowly barred with slate-color ; 

 lirimary-coverts, primaries, and 

 outer secondaries, jdain black- 

 ish dusky. Remainder of the 

 plumage fine light salmon-butf 

 in life, fading to bully white in 

 dried skins ; inner 8ec(mdaries 

 narrowly skirted with Mack ; 

 base 'jf the greater coverts 

 deep Mack, forming a distinct 

 bar about half way across the 

 wing ; anterior border of the 

 wing dusky {jrayish, or black- 

 ish. l?ill deep vermilion-red, 

 the culnien and nail black ; fi'et 

 deep red ; iris carmine. Adult 

 female: Head and upper half 

 of the neck reddish cinnamon, 

 Afale. the pileiim and occijiital crest 



