242 
MERGUS MERGANSER. 
the outer vanes, edged with black ; the legs and fee* 
ai'e of a rich orange ; toes, long, middle one somewhat 
the longest ; claws, flesh coloured. The whole plumag® 
is of a silky softness, particularly that of the head an® 
neck, which feels like the most delicate velvet. I 
Naturalists represent the feet and legs of this specie* 
as of the colour of red sealing wax. This is an errot 
which arose from the circumstance of their having see® 
their specimens some time after they had been kill®®' 
When the bird is alive, these parts are of a beautit®* 
orange, which changes after death to the colour the^ 
mention. . 
The above description was taken from a fine fo® ■ 
plumaged male, which was shot in the vicinity ®i 
Philadelphia in the month of January. It was in go®^ 
condition, and weighed three pounds thirteen ounce* 
avoirdupois.] 
285 . MEnatrs iiEJtGAirsEit, riKNJECS axd Wilson. 
FEMALE COOSANDEK. 
WILSON, PLATE LXVIII. FIG. 11. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSED®' 
This generally measures an inch or two shorter tba® 
the male ; the length of the present specimen 
twenty-five inches ; extent, thirty-five inches ; hi®’ 
crimson on the sides, black above ; irides, reddish ' 
crested head and part of the neck, dark brown, lightes^ 
on the side.s of the neck, where it inclines to a sort® 
colour ; chin and throat, white ; the crest shoots o®. 
in long radiating flexible stripes ; upper part of *® , 
body, tail, and flanks, an ashy slate, tinged with broM'®^ 
primaries, black ; middle secondaries, white, forniinff ^ 
lai'ge speculum on the wing; greater coverts, blac*’ 
tipt for half an inch with white ; sides of the brei^ ’ 
from the sorrel-coloured part of the neck downward^ 
very pale ash, with broad semicircular touches of "’hd® ’ 
belly and low'er part of the breast, a fine yello'*'!* . 
cream colour — a distinguishing trait also in the m®*® ’ 
legs and feet, orange red. 
