GENUS I. MERGUS, Linn. MERGANSER.
Character as above.
412. 1. Mergus Merganser, Linn. Buff-breasted Merganser or Goosander.
Plate CCCXXXI. 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-buff; 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. Female 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 buff; 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 secondaries white, outer and primaries greyish-black.
Male, 27, 36. Female, 24, 34.
In winter dispersed over the United States, and westward as far as Texas. Breeds from Massachusetts northward, and along the Great Lakes.
Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. viii. p. 68.
Mergus Merganser, Bonap. Syn. p. 397.
Mergus Merganser, Goosander, Swains. & Rich. F. Bor. Amer. v. ii. p. 461.
Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 460.
Goosander, Mergus Merganser, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 261.
413. 2. Mergus Serrator, Linn. Red-breasted Merganser.