194 
MERGANSERINtE. merganser. 
which they line with down, and lay numerous elliptical, 
cream-coloured, or white eggs. The young presently 
betake themselves to the water. 
GENUS CXXXY. MERGANSER. GOOSANDER. 
Body large, elongated, elliptical, depressed,; neck long; 
head moderate, oblong, anteriorly narrowed. Bill about the 
length of the head, nearly straight or slightly arcuate, ra- 
ther stout, of greater height than breadth at the base, taper- 
ing to the middle, beyond which it is slender and cylindri- 
cal; upper mandible with the lateral sinuses short and round- 
ed, the upper angle rather acute, the ridge broad at the base, 
gradually narrowed, the nasal sinus oblong, the unguis ob- 
longo-elliptical, convex, abruptly decurved, the edges mar- 
gin ate, serrate, with dentiform, compressed, tapering lamellae. 
Palate flat, anteriorly with a medial prominent line, and on 
each side a series of slight oblique lamellae ; tongue slender, 
papillate, or bristly above and on the edges, with the tip nar- 
row and lacerated ; oesophagus very wide ; stomach roundish, 
very muscular, with dense rugous epithelium ; intestine long ; 
cceca moderate, narrow at the base, cylindrical, obtuse ; rec- 
tum with a globular dilatation. Trachea in the male with 
one or two dilatations, and an enormously large bony and 
membranous tympanum. Nostrils oblong, pervious. Eyes 
rather small. Aperture of ear extremely small. Legs very 
short, placed far behind ; tarsus stout, compressed, anteriorly 
with small scuteila ; hind toe very small, anterior long, the 
outer little shorter than the third ; interdigital membranes 
full ; claws small, slightly arcuate, rather acute. Plumage 
moderately full, Arm ; feathers of the occiput and nape elon- 
gated and slender ; scapulars and inner secondaries elon- 
gated ; wings short, acuminate, of twenty-six quills ; prima- 
ries stifflsh, tapering, the first longest ; tail small, much 
rounded, of eighteen stiffish feathers. 
26?. Mergus Castor. Buff-breasted Goosander. 
Male twenty-six inches long, with a broad longitudinal, 
rather inconspicuous, crest of oblong feathers ; the bill and 
feet red ; the head and upper neck greenish-black ; the back 
