LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS 



Order V. ANSERES 

 DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS. Family ANATIDAE 



The birds comprising tliis family are of greatly varying sizes, but all have 

 webbed feet, and generally the bill is broader than high, and is serrated on the 

 edges or provided with gutters to act as a strainer in assisting the birds to 

 gather their food. 



129. Merganser. Mergiis americanus. 



Range. — North America, breeding from the 

 northern border of the United States nortliward. 



The tliree species of Merga.nsers are almost 

 exclusively fish eating birds. Therefore their flesh 

 is unpalatable and they are known as "Fish 

 Ducks." They are also sometimes called "Saw- 





Brownish buff 



bills" because of the teeth-like serration on both 

 the upper and the under mandibles. Unlike the 

 other species of ducks, their bills are long, slend- 

 er and rounded instead of being broad and flat; 

 It is also hooked at the tip. Like the Cormorants, 

 they often pursue and catch fish under the water, 

 their teeth-like bills enabling them to firmly hold 

 their prey. 



The American Mergansers, Goosanders, or Shel- 

 drakes, as they are often called, are found botn 

 on the coast and in the interior. Except in cer- 

 tain mountainous regions, they breed chiefly north 

 of the United States. The male bird has no crest 

 and the head is a beautiful green, while the female has a reddish brown crest 

 and head, shading to white on the chin. They build their nest in hollow trees 

 near the water. It is made of grasses, leaves and moss and is lined with feath- 

 ers from the breast of the female. During May, they lay from six to ten eggs 

 of a creamy or buff color. Size 2.70 x 1.75. Data. — Gun Is., Lake Winnipeg. 

 June 16, 1903. Eleven eggs in a nest of white down, located between two large 

 boulders. Collector, Walter Kaine. 



87 



American Merg'iin.ser 



R^d-breasted Merganst^r 



