FAM. L. DUCZ8, GEESE, AND SWANS 



306 



Sed-Iireasted Merganser 



tends farther down the neck in this species than in the 

 next, and the distance from the nostril to end of bill is less, 

 being in this species li- inches, in the next If. These fish- 

 eating ducks inhabit both fresh and salt waters, are great 

 divers, and can pursue and catch their food while under the 

 surface. (Goosan- 

 der; Shelldrake; 

 Sawbill.) 



Length, 25 ; wing, 

 10| (91-111); tail, 5; 

 tarsus, 1| ; culmen, 2. 

 North America ; breed- 

 ing from Pennsylvania 

 and Colorado north- 

 ward, and wintering 

 from Maine, Illinois, 

 and Kansas southward. 



42. Red -breasted 

 Merganser (130. Mer- 

 gdnser serrhtor). — A common, crested, dark-green-headed, red- 

 dish-breasted, fish duck, with the back made up of white, black, 

 and gray. The reddish breast is streaked with blackish, the 

 head and neck are green-glossed, and the rump and sides barred 

 with black and white. The female has the head and upper 

 neck cinnamon-brown, the back gray, and the breast and belly 

 white. The speculum is white, and the throat whitish. 



Length, 2.3 ; wing, 9 (8|-9J); tail, 4; tarsus, 1|; culmen, 2|. North- 

 ern portion of northern liemisphere ; breeding in America from the 

 northern border of the United States northward, and wintering through- 

 out most of the United States. 



43. Hooded Merganser (131. Lophddytes cuculliUus). — A small, 

 strongly crested, fish duck, with black and white head, black 

 back, white belly, and cinnamon-red sides. The head and 

 neck are black except a large, central, fan-shaped part of the 

 very flat, high chest, which is white. The black and white of 

 the lower neck and breast are so arranged as to give the appear- 

 ance of two white collars, wide and touching in front, narrow 



apgak's birds. — 20 



