MERGANSERS 



(129) Mergus americfinus Cassin 



(Lat., a diver). 



MERGANSER; GOOSANDER; 

 SHELDRAKE; SAW-BILL. Bill 

 sharply toothed on the edges; nostril 

 midway along the bill. Ad. c? — 

 Plumage as shown b^r bird on the 

 stump. Eye, bill and feet red. 

 Breast and underparts tinted with 

 salmon. Ad. 9 — Plumage as 

 shown by the swimming bird. Eye 

 j'ellow. Notice that the head of the 

 2 is crested, while that of the d' is 

 not. L., 25.00; W., 10.50; T., 5.00; 

 B., 2.00; Tar., 1.90. Female some- 

 what smaller. Nest — Of grass, lined 

 with feathers; six to nine creamy- 

 buff eggs, 2.70 X 1.75. 



Range — Breeds from Me., Mich, 

 and Ore. northward; winters from 

 Me., Wis. and B. C. south to the Gulf. 



having the bill lamellate — that is, with flutings or teeth 

 on the edges of each mandible, these alternating so as to fit 

 together when the bill is closed. The feet are webbed and 

 the hind toe is elevated, and in some species lobed. 



Mergansers have the typical duck form, but the long 

 and rather slender bills are round in cross section and the 

 edges are very sharply toothed. 



The habits of the two larger species, the MERGANSER 

 and the RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, are quite 

 similar, although the latter during winter are more often 

 found on salt water, while the former delights in frequent- 

 ing turbulent streams. During summer both species retire 

 to the edges of ponds in the northern United States and 

 Canada to nest. The nests are on the ground, in patches of 

 weeds or sheltered by rocks, and, as usual with duck nests, 

 are warmly lined with downy feathers from the breasts 

 of the females. 



As might be judged from the form of their bills, mergan- 



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