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Genus MERGUS. 



Merganser apud Brisson, Orn. vi. p. 231 (1760). 



Mergus, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 208 (1766). 



Mergellus apud Selby, Cat. Gen. & Subg. of Birds, p. 47 (1840). 



The Goosanders differ chiefly from the true Ducks in having a very slender, toothed bill, and in 

 feeding almost entirely on fish. They inhabit the Paleearctic, Oriental, Australian, Nearctic, and 

 Neotropical Eegions, being but rare stragglers in the northern portions of the Ethiopian Region. 



Three species are constant residents in the Western Palsearctic Region ; and a fourth, Mergus 

 cucullatus, has also been included in the European list ; but after a careful examination of the 

 records of its reported appearance, I find that they are, as a rule, so doubtful that I have deemed 

 it best to exclude it. The male of this bird is easily recognizable by its full, flat, black crest, 

 in which there is a large fan-shaped patch of white. 



The Mergansers frequent both salt and fresh water, are shy and wary in their habits, fly 

 swiftly and well, and are extremely expert divers, preferring when pursued to seek safety by 

 diving, and will frequently remain for long under water. They swim very fast ; but, owing to 

 their legs being placed so far back, they are clumsy walkers. They feed chiefly on fish, which 

 they capture under water ; but they also feed on larva? of water-insects, worms, frogs, &c. They 

 nest in hollow trees or on the ground, their nest being a collection of down intermixed with 

 twigs, grass, and moss ; and they deposit numerous creamy buff, creamy white, or pale greenish- 

 buff eggs. 



Mergus merganser, the type of the genus, has the bill longer than the head, slender, nearly 

 straight, higher than broad at the base, tapering towards the tip ; unguis oblong, as broad as 

 the mandibles, abruptly decurved ; the edges of both mandibles furnished with tooth-like lamella? ; 

 nostrils oblong, placed in the anterior part of the nasal sinus ; trachea composed of well-ossified 

 rings, having a large dilatation at the lower extremity, partly bony, partly membranous; bronchi 

 wide, and of about twenty rings ; wings short, pointed, the first quill longest, the inner secon- 

 daries elongated, tapering ; tail rather long, rounded ; legs rather short, placed far aft ; tarsus 

 anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe small, elevated, broadly lobed ; anterior toes long ; claws small, 

 slender, compressed, slightly arched, acute. 



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