233 GAME BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA. 



ing shot at, on account of their small size, swift flight, and extreme 

 tenacity of life, making it so hard to get them after they are shot. 

 As a general thing, however, everything is " game " which passes 

 over the Hne. from a goose to a crow. 



Erismatura ruiiiia.— Bon. Ruddy Duck. 



Male with the neck and upper parts browmish-red, the lower 

 parts silky white marbled with pale grey, chin and sides of head 

 white, crown and nape black. This is the most perfect plumage, 

 and is not often seen. Female and young males brown above, 

 dotted and waved with darker, below paler. Top of head dark 

 brown, under tail coverts white. Bill broad and flat with an over- 

 hanging nail. Feathers of tail peculiarly stiffened and slender. 

 Length fifteen inches. North America, abundant. 



Erismaiura dominica. — ^Eyt. St. Domingo Duck. 



Head in front and chin black. Hind head, neck and breast 

 deep reddish-brown ; above brownish-red blotched with black, be- 

 low paler, speculum white. Smaller than last. A tropical species 

 accidental in the United States. 



Mergus merganser. — Linn. Merganser. Goosander. Fisli Duck. 



The Mergansers are to be distinguished from oihtx FuUguUna 

 by having the bill round instead of flattened, and strongly toothed. 

 Their food consists almostly entirely of fish which they pursue 

 " like the loons and cormorants." Their flesh is of course very 

 rank, almost uneatable in fact. These birds are not systematically 

 pursued.'but are occasionally shot by the gunner while in pursuit 

 of other game. 



The male Goosander has the head somewhat puffy, glossy 

 green, back and wings black and white, under parts salmon 

 colored. Female with a slight crest, head and neck reddish- 

 brown, upper parts ashy grey with some white. Length about 

 two feet. Whole of North America. 



Mergus serraior .—lAnn. Sheldrake. Red-breasted Merganser. 

 With a slight crest in both sexes. General coloration like the 

 last, but the male with the lower fore-neck and breast reddish 



