ANATIN.E — THE DUCKS — MEKdUS. 



113 



i''iiiiii/f\ 



(the latter rauuli longer tlmn in the male) more brown, tlie lores <,'riiyish ; thin, throat, and malar 

 re^'ion, white ; uppei- parts, sides, and Hanks, bluish |,'ray, the inner secondaries white, the exposed 

 portion of the lower greater coverts white, tipped with (hisky ; outer secondaries, primary coverts, 

 ;ind primaries, uniform slate-color. Lower pai'ts, except laterally, pale creamy salmon-color, lading 

 to nearly white in dried specimens, 

 the leathers of tlie jugulum ash-gray 

 lieni.'ath tlie surface. Dill, eyes, and 

 feet, i'us in the male, but less brilliant 

 in color. 



Dinniij young : > Upper hidf of tiie 

 liead, witii nape, reddish brown, more 

 reddish on the nape, where encroach- 

 ing on the sides of tlie neck ; re- 

 iiaiiiiiig upjier parts hair-brown or 

 grayish uudier, relieved by four white 

 spots, one on the posterior border of 

 each wing, and one on each side the 

 runi|> ; lower parts white ; a strijie 

 on the lower half of the lores, run- 

 ning back beneath the eye, white ; 

 below this a narrower stripe of deep 

 brown, from the rictus back to the 



a'.iricular region; a wide stripe, occupying the upper half of the lore, from the l)ill to the eye, 

 lilackisii brown, this separated from the und)er of the f irehead by a very indistinct streak of 

 brownish white or pale brown. 



Ailiilt male: Total length, about 27 inches, extent, lU) ; wii.g, 1(>..")0-I1.2r) ; culmen, 1.90-2.20; 

 tarsus, l.!)0-2.0() ; nuddle toe, 2.40-2.50. Adult /antde : Total length, about 24 inches, extent, 34 ; 

 wing, !).(i0-!).7.") ; culmen, I.SO-2.01); tarsus, l.So-l.iM); niiildle toe, 2.2.")-2.40. 



We can perceive no dilferiMice of coloration lielween American and Huro})ean specimens of this 

 sjiecie.s, further than tiiat adult males of the former have the black at the base of the greater wing- 

 coverts ex|iose(l, so as to form a very di.stinct band about half way across the wing, while in those 

 of the latter this black is entirely concealed by the overlying miildle coverts. There is, however, 

 a dill'erencc in the proportions of the bill in the two forms which may prove of .specific importance. 

 In the females, this diil'erence in the bill is the oidy obvituis distinguishing character. 



The Noi'tli Amorican (JoosiiiuU'r hears very rloso roscinblanco to tho European 

 I'orni, and by nio.st writci.s the two are regarded as being the same species. It is 

 generally km)wn in all parts of the country as tiie "Sheldrake,"' and is not iufre- 

 (piently confounded with the Koddu-eastod .Merganser — from which it ditfers, liow- 

 ever, in its larger si/e, as well as in certain iieculiarities of its habits and distribution ; 

 moreover, while the Hed-breasted ^lerganser is a nmre maritime species, the Goosaiulor 

 prefers inland hikes and rivers. 



The last-named species is found nearly throughout Xorth .Vnu'riea, breeding from 

 about latitude 42° N. to the extrenu' ]ioints of the Kur Country, and in tho winter 

 nu)nths occurring throughout the continent. 



Sir John Kicliardson describes this bird as making a lu'st id" withered grass and 

 feathers in the manner of D'aeks in uni're([uented jdaees ; but in this he may have been 

 misinforiued, or may have eonfoumled the sermfDr with this species. Or it may be 

 true of Ducks that breed in regions where there are few hollow trees to lu^st in. This 

 l>uck is said to be one of the last of the Amithhr to move south in the fall. 



Mr. Hearne, in his Arctic journey, makes nu'ution of the (ioosander — which is 



1 Described from No. 578;), Bridger's I'a.s.s, Hocky Mountains, Aug. i:!, IS-IC!; \V. S. Wood. Distin- 

 guisliublc with i'crtninty hum the young uf .)/. .snivlur by the ditferent position of the nustrlL 

 VOL. u. — 1') 



