The American Merganser 



difficult for the Buz- 

 zard. Nothing is too 

 humble for his notice, 

 a dead frog, a snake, 

 or a gopher. Indeed, 

 the buzzards are un- 

 der an increasing debt 

 of obligation to the 

 automobilists, who 

 leave now and then a 

 cat or squirrel in their 

 scented wake. Buz- 

 zards resort also to 

 the seashore, and 

 share with the scav- 

 enger gulls the charity 

 of a scornful ocean. 

 Storm-beaten ducks 

 and spent tom-cods 

 find thus an inglorious 

 sepulture. 



It is needless to 

 add that in the gleaning of offal the Turkey Buzzards perform an invaluable 

 service to humanity. The charge that they have been themselves active 

 in the spread of disease, such, for instance, as hog cholera, does not seem 

 to be sustained ; and there is every reason why the birds should enjoy 

 the fullest immunity. 



A CATHARTINE DANDY 



YOUNG VULTURES ARE REALLY VERY HANDSOME CREATURES 



No. 341 



American Merganser 



A. 0. U. Xo. 129. Mergus merganser americanus Cassin. 



Synonyms. — Goosander. Sheldrake. Saw-bill. Fish Duck. 



Description. — Adult male: Head and upper neck greenish black, the hind-neck 

 loosely crested; upper back, inner scapulars, and a prominent short bar formed by 

 exposed bases of greater coverts, black; the primaries and their coverts dusky; lower 

 back and tail ashy gray; neck all around, outer scapulars, most of the wing-coverts, 

 speculum, and entire underparts white, the latter delicately tinged with pale salmon 

 (this generally fading to creamy white in skins) ; tertiaries white, bordered narrowly 

 with black; flanks wavy-barred, ashy gray and white. Bill and feet vermilion, the 

 former black on ridge, with black hooked nail ; iris carmine. Adult female and immature: 

 More conspicuously crested on hind-neck and nape; the head and upper neck dark 

 cinnamon-brown, white on chin and sides of throat; above ashy blue-gray, with white 

 speculum and black of wings much as in male; underparts white, shaded on sides with 



1743 



