MERGUS SERRATOR. 269 



Afghanistan or Beluchistan (unless, as is possible, the birds 

 observed by Bishop* at Chabour and Jask on the Mekran Coast 

 belonged to this and not, as he believed, the more common 

 species) nor even in Persia or the Caspian, or Asia Minor ; but 

 I suspect it will prove to occur, as a rare straggler, in severe 

 winters to most, if not all, these localities. 



On the Coasts of Palestine it has been observed in the Sinai- 

 tic Peninsular, and has occurred accidently in Egypt and 

 Algiers. 



It occurs throughout Europe elsewhere on passage, or as a 

 winter visitant only, but breeding in Scotland, the Shetland 

 and Faeroe Islands, and commonly in Iceland, in Denmark, 

 Sweden and Norway right up to the North Cape, the southern 

 littoral of the Baltic, Finland, and Northern Russia. On the 

 whole perhaps it is more common in the north, and less so in 

 the south than the Goosander. In North America its range is 

 similar to that of the latter species, but it occurs in Greenland ; 

 and, though recorded from California, hardly travels quite so far 

 south in winter. 



Generally I think it may be said to have a rather more 

 northerly range, to extend and breed further north, and to 

 straggle less frequently far south than the Goosander ; and it 

 is a species which I should only expect to meet with within 

 our limits as a rare straggler. 



I have no original particulars to furnish of this species. The 

 following I compile from European and American specimens 

 and sources : — 



Males.— Length, 24'0 to 26"0 ; expanse, 29'0 to 32-5; 

 wing, 90 to 10'0 ; tail, from insertion of feathers, 3 - l 

 to 4*2; tarsus, 1*8 to 2*05; bill, at front, along culmen, 2*4 

 to 2*5 ; weight (Neumann) a little over 2 lbs. 



Females, — Length, 22*0 to 23*5 ; expanse, 28*0 to 31*0 ; wing, 

 85 to 9*3 ; tail, from insertion of feathers, 2'7 to 36 ; tarsus, 

 1-66 to 1'83 ; bill, as above, 2*1 to 23. 



In the male the bill varies from orange red to deep vermilion, 

 is more or less dusky on the ridge, aud has the nail varying 

 from pale yellowish grey to aUnost black. The feet vary simi- 

 larly to the bill, and are brighter externally, paler internally, 

 and duller on the webs. The claws are light grey, duller and 

 browner, or redder towards their bases. 



In the young females there is more dusky on the upper 

 mandible, where the red is often only a lateral band, and the 

 feet are duller coloured than in the adult male. 



In the adult male, the whole head, chin, throat, and the neck 

 all round, for about one inch, black, glossed with metallic green 



• c.f., IV., 496. 



