242 
MERGUS MERGANSER. 
the outer vanes, edged with black ; the legs and feet 
are of a rich orange ; toes, long, middle one somewhat 
the longest ; claws, flesh coloured. The whole plumage 
is of a silky softness, particularly that of the head and 
neck, which feels like the most delicate velvet. 
Naturalists represent the feet and legs of this species 
as of the colour of red sealing wax. This is an error 
which arose from the circumstance of their having seen 
their specimens some time after they had been killed. 
When the bird is alive, these parts are of a beautiful 
orange, which changes after death to the colour they 
mention. 
The above description was taken from a fine full 
plumaged male, which was shot in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia in the month of January. It was in good 
condition, and weighed three pounds thirteen ounces 
avoirdupois.] 
285 . MEllGUS MERGANSER , LINNiEUS AND WILSON. 
FEMALE GOOSANDER. 
WILSON, PLATE LXVIII. FIG. II. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This generally measures an inch or two shorter than 
the male ; the length of the present specimen was 
twenty-five inches ; extent, thirty-five inches ; hill, 
crimson on the sides, black above ; irides, reddish ; 
crested head and part of the neck, dark brown, lightest 
on the sides of the neck, where it inclines to a sorrel 
colour ; chin and throat, white ; the crest shoots out 
in long radiating flexible stripes ; upper part of the 
body, tail, and flanks, an ashy slate, tinged with brown ; 
primaries, black ; middle secondaries, white, forming a 
large speculum on the wing ; greater coverts, black, 
tipt for half an inch with white ; sides of the breast, 
from the sorrel-coloured part of the neck downwards, 
very pale ash, with broad semicircular touches of white ; 
belly and lower part of the breast, a fine yellowish 
cream colour — a distinguishing trait also in the male ; 
legs and feet, orange red. 
