392 BUFF-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



Along with the representation of a pair of adult birds of this species, I 

 have given a correct view of the Cohoes Falls, in the State of New York. 



Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Wils. Amer. Orn., vol. viii. p. 68. *& 



Mergos Merganser, Bonap. Syn. ; p. 397. ■'/■' 



Mergus Merganser, Goosander, Swains, and Rich. F. Bor. Amer., vol. ii. p. 461. 

 Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Nutt. Man., vol. ii. p. 460. 

 Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Aud. Orn. Biog., vol. iv. p. 261. 



Male, 27, 36. Female, 24, 34. 



In winter dispersed over the United States, and westward as far as Texas. 

 Breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes. 



Adult Male. 



Bill about the length of the head, straight, strong, tapering, higher than 

 broad at the base, nearly cylindrical toward the end. Upper mandible with 

 the dorsal outline sloping gently to the middle, then straight, along the 

 unguis suddenly decurved; the ridge broad at the base, then convex; the 

 sides sloping rapidly at the base, convex toward the end; the edges serrated 

 beneath; the unguis oblong, much curved, abruptly rounded at the end. 

 Nasal groove elongated; nostrils submedial, linear, direct, pervious. Lower 

 mandible with the angle very narrow, and extended to the unguis, which is 

 obovate; the sides nearly erect in their outer half, with a long narrow groove, 

 the edges serrate within. 



Head rather large, compressed, oblong. Neck rather short, thick. Body 

 full, depressed. Feet placed far behind, short, stout; tibia bare for about a 

 quarter of an inch; tarsus very short, compressed, anteriorly covered with 

 small scutella, and another row on the lower half externally, the sides 

 reticulate. Hind toe very small, with an inferior free membrane; anterior 

 toes half as long again as the tarsus; second shorter than fourth, which is 

 almost as long as the third, all connected by reticulated webs, which are 

 deeply concave; the outer toe slightly margined, the inner with a broad 

 marginal membrane. Claws rather small, moderately arched, compressed, 

 acute, that of the middle toe with a thin inner edge. 



Plumage moderately full, dense, soft, glossy. Feathers of the head and 

 neck silky, blended, elongated along the median line, so as to form a not 

 conspicuous crest; of the back rather compact; of the lower parts blended. 

 Wings short, of moderate breadth, convex, acute; primaries narrow, tapering, 

 the first scarcely shorter than the second, the rest rapidly graduated; 

 secondaries rather short, narrow, rounded, the inner elongated and tapering. 

 Tail short, much rounded, of eighteen rather narrow rounded feathers. 



Bill bright vermilion, with the unguis black. Iris carmine. Feet orange- 

 red in winter, bright vermilion in the breeding season. Head and upper 



