MERGING. MERGES. 
297 
mandible with an internal series of small papillae or laminae 
on each side, besides those on the margin. Tongue long, 
fleshy, emarginate and papillate at the base, tapering, with 
a double row of slender reversed papillae along the upper 
surface, and two lateral series of filaments on each side, the 
tip lacerated ; oesophagus very wide, of nearly uniform dia- 
meter ; stomach a strong gizzard of moderate or small size, 
with the lateral muscles thick ; the epithelium dense and 
longitudinally rugous ; intestine long, rather narrow ; coeca 
rather long ; cloaca globular. Trachea with one or two ex- 
tensive dilatations, besides the enormously developed tym- 
panum at the bifurcation ; no inferior laryngeal muscles. 
Nest on the ground, or in hollow trees. Eggs numerous. 
GENUS I. MERGUS, Linn. MERGANSER. 
Character as above. 
412. 1. Mergus Merganser, Linn. Buff-breasted Merganser 
or Goosander. 
Plate CCCXXXL Male and Female. 
Male with a short longitudinal crest, eighteen tail-feathers, the bill 
and feet of bright vermilion ; the head and upper part of neck greenish- 
black, splendent, with bright green reflections ; lower part of neck all 
round, and all the under parts of a delicate reddish-buflP ; sides of 
rump and part of abdomen greyish-white, finely undulated and dotted 
with dark grey ; some of the lower wing-coverts dusky, the larger 
coverts grey ; fore part of back and inner scapulars glossy black ; hind 
part ash-grey, becoming lighter, and finally undulated on the rump ; 
upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers deep grey ; outer scapulars white ; 
a transverse band of black at the base of the wing concealed by the 
scapulars ; wing-coverts white ; alula, primary coverts and quills, and 
a band formed by the base of the first row of large coverts black ; 
secondaries white, six of them margined externally with a black line. 
F emale much smaller, with the crest much longer ; the head and 
upper part of neck brownish-red ; throat and lower parts white, the 
breast and abdomen tinged with buflT ; upper parts and sides ash-grey ; 
smaller wing-coverts and inner secondaries grey ; bases and tips of 
secondary coverts black, the intermediate part white ; middle secon- 
daries white, outer and primaries greyish-black. 
Male, 27, 36. Femaley 24, 34. 
