ANATID^— THE SWANS, GEESE, AND DUCKS. 187 



mersed, It .is also extremely expert at diving; and when wounded, 

 often escapes by doing this, and then hiding in the grass, if 

 there is any accessible." ( ^Yater Bvrds of North America.) 



Mr. Salvin found this species more easily procurable than any 

 other of the ducks frequenting the lake of Duenas, in Guatemala, 

 on account of a peculiarity in its powers of flight which renders 

 its escape less easy than it would otherwise be. It can fly as 

 well as any other when it is once fairly started, but rises with 

 great difficulty from the water; and, in consequence of this, it 

 can be approached within easy gunshot by sailing down upon 

 it before the wind. Sometimes, however, it seeks safety by div- 

 ing; and when it does this, so rapid are its motions that it is 

 almost certain to escape. 



The eggs of the Ruddy Duck are remarkably large in propor- 

 tion to the size of the bird, and are distinguished from those 

 of every other North American "duck by the roughness of the 

 shell. 



Subfamily MERGING.— The Mergansebs. 

 Genus MERGANSER Bbisson. 



Merganser Beiss. Orn. vi. 1760, 230. Type, Mergus vnerganser Linn. 



Gen. Chab. Bill longer than the head, the breadth uaiformly about equal to the depth, 

 the serrations conical, acute, an i pointnd backward; crest occipital, pointed, or scarcely 

 developed and depressed. Tarsus nearly three fourths the middle toe, with claw. Tail 

 about half the length of the wings. BUI mostly reddish. Adult malen with head and upper 

 neck greenish black, the occiput crested; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, plain ash-gray; 

 rest of upper parts mainly pied black and whidsh; lower parts rioh creamy white or pale 

 salmon-color. Adult females with head and upper neck oinnamoa-brownUh (occiput 

 crested, as in the male), chin aud part of throat white; upper parts grayish, with some 

 white on wings; lower parts buffy white. 



The two North Anierican species of this genus may be readily 

 distinguished as follows, the females alone resembling one 

 another: 



1. U. amerioanns. Nostrils sltuatednear the middle ofthe maxilla; frontal feathers extend- 

 ing farther f.>rward than ho'ie on lateral base of bill. Adult male: Head and most of 

 the neok'greenish blajk; head slightly crested; chest and other lower parts creamy 

 white, or pale salmon-color. Adult female: Smd itnd neck reddish (chin and throat 

 white), the o^'Ci put with a ful crest of lengthened feathers. Above, chiefly bluish gray. 



2. K, serrator. Nostrils situated near the base of the maitilla: feathers on lateral base of ' 

 bill extending farther forward than tho^e on the forehead. Adult male: Head dull 

 greenish black, the oooiput with a long pointed crest of narrow feathe. s ; neck and sides 

 of the chest dull buff, or light cinnamon, streaked with black; other lower parts 



