Genus MERGUS or MERGANSERS. 



Type MERGUS MERGANSER. 



MergUS of Linnaeus (1766). — The birds comprising the 

 present genus are characterised by having a straight, slender, 

 narrow bill, furnished on both upper and lower mandible with 

 saw-like lamellae. The wings are moderately long, The nostrils 

 are lateral and central. The tarsus is short ; three toes in front, 

 webbed ; hind toe moderate and lobed. 



This genus contains four species which are distributed through 

 the northern portions of the Palsearctic and Nearctic regions, and 

 one species is an isolated resident in the Neotropical region. 

 Four species are British, one of which breeds commonly, one 

 rarely in our islands, and the other two are accidental visitors. 



The Mergansers frequent both inland waters as well as mari- 

 time districts. They are birds of rapid, if laboured flight, and 

 swim and dive with wonderful skill, but on the land they walk 

 clumsily. Their notes are loud and unmusical. They subsist on 

 fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and shell-fish. They make rude nests, 

 which are lined with down, on the ground or in holes of trees. 

 Their eggs are numerous, and white, cream colour, or olive-gray, 

 and unspotted. They are monogamous and probably pair for 

 life. They are more or less gregarious, except in the breeding 

 season, although social tendencies are even then observable. 



