MERGIN.E. 261 



Subfamily MERGINiE. 



This subfamily is at once distinguishable from all others by its liill, 

 "svhich (lifters very greatly from the shape most generally considered 

 typical of a duck. Instead of being considerably depressed in the ordinary 

 manner, it is actually compressed, and instead of having the usual lamella 

 along the sides has regular tooth-like serrations on the edges of both upper 

 and lower mandible. This last characteristic suffices to distinguish the 

 MergiuEe from the Meroanettin;e, a sulifamilv which has neither teeth nor 

 serrations, but which is not represented in India. 



The Merginse consists of two genera only, as represented in India, with 

 one other [Lophodi/tes) confined to North America. 



Keij to (jrenera. 



a. Culmen shorter than tarsus, under I'o inches ; ^^■ing 



about 7 to S inches Mergus, p. 261. 



h. Culmen longer than tarsus, over 1-9 inches : wing 



about to 11 inches Merganser, p. 26S. 



Genus MERGIJS. 



The genus Mergvs contains Init a single species, the well-known Smew 

 {Mergus alhellus). Its curious narrow beak and its much smaller size than 

 either of the Meroansers will at once serve to distinguish it from all other 

 species of duck found in India. 



