MERGING. 
increases,  (hoy  rrturn  to  the  more  temperate  regions  in  large  flocks.  They  an:  rarely  seen  on  the  land,  but  when  on  the 
water  their  heads  and  hacks  only  are  visihle  above-  the  surface.  Their  activity  if  remarkable,  especially  when  diving; 
and  they  0068688  the  power  of  continuing  beneath  the  surface  for  some  time,  and  of  proceeding  for  sonic  distance  with 
great  rapidity.  During  these  submersions  they  seek  for  lish,  on  which  they  almost  entirely  subsist.  It  is  in  the  high 
latitudes,  on  the  margins  of  water,  that  they  build  their  nests,  either  concealed  by  a  large  stone  or  placed  under  the 
cover  of  bushes;  this  nest  is  composed  of  grass  and  other  vegetable  materials,  mixed  and  lined  with  any  kind  of  soft 
substances,  and  in  it  the  female  deposits  from  eight  to  twelve  eggs. 
1.  M.  Cantor  Linn.  PI.  enl.  951. —  Magus  Merganser  Linn.  Wils. 
Ainer.  Orn.  pi.  ()S.  f.  1.  ;  Merganser  Itaii  Stc/ili. 
2.  M.  scrrator  Linn.  PI.  enl  207.  —  Merganser  cristatus  Brigs. 
Wils.  Amer.  Orn.  pi.  6'Q.  f.  2.  ;  Mergus  niger  Gmel.  ;  Merganser 
■errata!  Staph, 
3.  M.  oucuiiatiU  Linn.  PI.  enl.  Q3">,  })36".  —  ?  Mergus  f us  CUB 
Lath.  ;  Merganser  virginianus  cristatus  Briss. 
4.  M.  brasil'wnsis  Vieill.  Gal.  des  Ois.  t.  28.'?. 
?  5.  M.  cristatus  Pall.  Zoogr.  11.  201. 
?  (i.  M.  vmperialis  Gmel. 
?  7.  M.  cccru/eus  Gmel. 
Mergellus  Sclby.* 
Hill  much  shorter  than  the  head,  more  elevated  than  broad  at  the  base  ;  the  culmen  gradually  sloping 
to  the  tip,  which  is  armed  with  a  broad  and  much  hooked  nail ;  the  lateral  margins  of  the  mandibles 
se  rrated  with  short  and  closely  set  teeth  ;  the  nostrils  placed  near  the  middle  of  the  bill,  lateral  and 
subovate.    The  rest  of  the  characters  agree  with  those  of  Mergus. 
The  type  of  this  genus  is  also  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  both  hemispheres,  whence  it  is  driven,  by  the 
approach  of  the  arctic  winter,  to  the  more  genial  portions  of  Europe  and  America,  where  it  frequents  the  sea  coast,  fresh- 
water lakes,  and  rivers.  This  bird  is  a  very  expert  swimmer,  and  can  remain  a  long  time  diving  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  water.  Fish,  and  more  especially  Crustacea,  form  the  principal  portion  of  its  food.  It  makes  its  nest  on  the 
borders  of  lakes  and  rivers;  and  the  female  deposits  from  eight  to  twelve  eggs. 
M.  ulbellus  (Linn.)  PI.  enl.  449.,  Wils.  Amer.  Orn.pl.  1)1.  f.  C).  — 
Mergus  minutus  Linn.;  Mergus  asiaticus  ?  Gmel.;  Mergus  glacialis 
Briirt. ;  Mergus  stellatus  Briss. 
(hybridus  cum  anate). 
Mergus  anatarius  Eimbach,  Isis 
*  Proposed  by  Mr.  Selby  (Cat.  of  Gen.  and  Subyen.  of  Birds,  p.  47.)  in  1840.  In  1816,  Leach  had  separated  this  species  as  the  Mergus 
proper,  in  which  idea  be  was  followed  by  Mr.  Stephens,  1824.  (Gen.  Zool.  xii.  150.) 
September,  1844. 
