104 
BUFF-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
half of neck greenish-black, splendent, with bright green reflections ; hind 
part of the neck below white ; fore part of neck and all the under parts of a 
delicate reddish-buff; the sides of the rump and part of the abdomen greyish- 
white, finely undulated and dotted with dark grey ; some of the lower wing- 
coverts dusky, the larger coverts and primaries light grey. The fore part of 
the back, and the inner scapulars, glossy black ; the 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, primary 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, the innermost margined on both webs, but more 
broadly on the inner, and with the tip black. 
Length to end of tail 27 inches, to end of claws 264, to end of wings 24, 
to carpal joint 13f , to end of green on the neck 7i ; extent of wings 36 ; bill 
along the ridge 2 T 8 a, along the edge of lower mandible 3 r V ; wing from flexure 
11^ ; tail 5 ; tarsus 1 ; first toe and claw ; outer toe $H, its claw ] * ; 
middle toe 2 j 3 2, its claw t S 2 . Weight 5 lbs. Of another 31 lbs. 
Dimensions of two other Males : 
Length to end of tail, 
26 
25|- inches. 
claws, 
27 
25 
wings, 
24 
234 
Extent of wings, 
38 
35 
Female. 
The female is much smaller. The bill, eyes, and feet are coloured as in 
the male, but the ridge of the bill is black, and the nail whitish; the 
longitudinal crest is much more elongated, being composed of linear feathers, 
some of them fully two inches and a half long. Head and upper part of 
neck brownish-red ; throat white ; all the upper parts, with the sides of the 
body and rump, deep ash-grey, the feathers paler at the margin. Smaller 
wing-coverts and inner secondaries grey; bases and tips of secondary coverts 
black, the intermediate part white ; middle secondaries white, outer and 
primaries black ; anterior part of neck below faintly banded with ash-grey ; 
breast and abdomen white, slightly tinged with buff. 
Length to end of tail 24 inches, to end of claws 234, to end of wings 20f ; 
extent of wings 34 ; bill along the ridge 1}4, along the edge of lower 
mandible 24 ; wing from flexure 104 ; tail 44 ; tarsus l/y ; hind toe and claw 
ft- ; middle toe 2 T 4 2 , its claw yV ; outer toe 2 T V, its claw T \. 
The young males after the autumnal moult, and until the middle ol 
summer, resemble the females. 
An adult male obtained near Boston examined. The heart is 2 inches 
