400 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



recurved, tooth-like lamellae on each side; the lower with about 60. The 

 aperture of the mouth is dilatable to l| inches, but in its ordinary state 

 measures only 9 twelfths across. The tongue is narrow, tapering, 1 inch 

 8 twelfths long, with numerous papillae at the base, and lateral series of re- 

 curved bristles. The aperture of the ear, as in all the diving piscivorous 

 Fig- 1- birds, is extremely small, being only Jr twelfth 



in diameter, and in this respect resembling that 

 of the Seals among the Mammalia. This kind of 

 ear forms the extreme contrast to that of the 

 nocturnal rapacious land birds. In the Ducks and 

 Geese it is also small, but much superior in size 

 to that of the Mergansers. The oesophagus, a b 

 c d, is 12 inches long, its diameter at the upper 

 part 1^- inches, farther down 1 inch and 7 twelfths, 

 within the thorax 1 inch 4 twelfths, at the proven- 

 triculus l^r inches. It is thus extremely wide, 

 like that of other diving piscivorous birds. The 

 stomach, d e, is roundish, of moderate size, 1 

 inch 8 twelfths in length, 1 inch 11 twelfths in 

 breadth. Its lateral muscles are of moderate 

 thickness, its epithelium tough, with two grind- 

 ing surfaces of a roundish form, and thus resem- 

 bling that of Ducks. The contents of the sto- 

 mach are remains of fishes and a great quantity 

 Fig. 2. 



