MERGUS Bill long, narrow, with saw-like sharp teeth in both mandibles ; frequent shores and inland waters ; nest in hollow trees or on ground under rocks ; eggs pale cream or greenish grey ; feed on fish caught by diving.
Mergus merganser merganser L. GOOSANDER. Fr. Grand Harle ; Ger. GAnsesiiger ; Ilal. Smergo maggiore ; Sated. Storskrake.
Head (crested) and neck green ; upper back black, lower back to tail grey ; secondaries, wing coverts, lower neck and underparts white with salmon tinge ; tail feathers t8. Bill vermilion, nail and ridge of upper mandible blackish. Legs and feet yellowish red, webs lighter. Above slaty grey, crown (crested) brown,. upper neck and sides of head chestnut. Bill dull red. Legs and feet duller than in j. Wing j 272-29o, 255-262. Tarsus j 50-53, 45-46. Bill j 55-63, ? .1? reeds.—Iceland, Faroes (rare), Norway, Sweden, Lapland, Finland, Russia south to Baltic Provinces and C. Volga, N. Germany, Denmark (few), Scotland, Switzerland (local), Dobrudscha (occasional), also in N. Asia. Partly migratory ; occurs in winter south to Spain and Morocco in west ; occasional Algeria and Egypt ; numerous north Coast Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas ; also Palestine, Persian Gulf, and further east in Asia.
Mergus serrator L. RED-EREASTED MERGANSER. Fr. Harle huppe ; Ger. Mittlerersager ; Ital. Smergo minore ; Swed. Sm Ask rak e.
j Crown (crested) and neck greenish black, collar white, back and scapulars black ; rump and flanks vermiculated black and white ; wing coverts and secondaries white ; underparts white, chest reddish buff mottled brown, patch on sides of breast with large white oval spots ; tail feathers 18. Iris reddish yellow to light red. Bill carmine, ridge above and nail black. Legs and feet light red. y Crown and crest reddish brown, sides of head and the neck more chestnut ; upper parts grey brown, greater coverts and outer secondaries white ; underparts white. Bill, legs, feet, and iris duller than in J. Wing (5' ? 218-236. Tarsus (3` Bill j 57-63, 52-58.
Breeds.—Circumpolar ; in Europe, in Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lapland, Finland, Russia south to Baltic Provinces, so° on Volga and N. Ufa, Caucasus, N. Germany,
Switzerland (local), Faroes, Scotland, Ireland ; also in N. Asia and N. America. Occurs in winter in British Isles, and Conti nental Europe from Holland to Poland south to Mediterranean ; Azores, Madeira, Tunisia, Egypt (doubtful), Palestine and S. Asia to Japan ; also America to California and W. Indies.
Mergus albellus L. SMEW. Fr. Petit I larle hupp(". ; Ger. Zwergsager ; Mil. l'esciajola ; Swed. Salskrake.
White ; foreface, occipital chevron enclosing crest, back, two lines on to breast, secondaries and greater wing coverts black ; flanks vermiculated ; tail 16 feathers. Iris bluish white. Bill bluish, nail whitish. Legs and feet plumbeous, webs blackish. Y Much smaller ; above dark grey, crown and nape chestnut ; beneath white, grey on chest. Iris dark brown. Bill, legs and feet slightly greener than in Wing 192-205, 9 178-186. Tarsus 30-32. Bill 8 28-30, 9 25-28 (W.).
Breeds.—N. Sweden, Lapland, N. Finland, Russia south of tundras south to Lake Onega, Kama River, Orenburg, and Ufa ; Dobrudscha ; and in Siberia east to Kamtschatka. Occurs in winter on W. European Coasts south to Mediterranean, and through C. and S. Europe on lakes and rivers, N.\V. Africa (occasional), N. Mediterranean Coasts, Black and Caspian Seas, Asia Minor, and in S. Asia to Japan. Rare visitor to Palestine and Egypt.
Mergus cucullatus L. HOODED MERGANSER.
e Above black ; head and neck black, crest laterally com pressed, white with black tips ; median wing coverts dove grey ; beneath white, two black bars on sides of breast, flanks chestnut vinous ; tail 18 feathers. Bill black. Legs and feet yellow brown. Iris yellow. 7 Above brown, beneath white ; head and neck brown, crest redder, white on wing confined to outer webs of secondaries. Bill black, edges orange. Iris brown. Legs and feet dusky red. Wing 8 192-20o, 9 184-198. Tarsus 30-31. hill d 40-42, 9 A North American species. Has occurred four times in British Isles (Wales and Ireland).