MERGUS, in natural history, the Merganser, a genus of birds of the order Anseres. Generic character: bill serra ted, slender, and hooked at the point ; nostrils small, oval, and near the middle of the bill ; feet four-toed, the outej one before longer than the middle one. There are ten species, of which we shall notice the following. M. merganser, the goosander, weighs about four pounds, and is twenty-eight inches long. It is common in the northern re gions of Europe and Asia, awns found in the Orknies during the whole year. It builds sometimes on trees, but generally in the holes and fissures of rocks, and feeds on fish. Its flesh is strong, and sel dom applied for food. See Ans, Plate IX. fig. 5. The M. serrates, or red-breast ed goosander, is considerably less than the former, is found also in the same lati tudes, and breeds in the north of Scot..
land, particularly in Loch Mari, in the county of Ross. It dives excellently, and is extremely alert on the water. About the season of its moulting, however, the natives of Greenland often kill it by darts, as the birds are less active than usual in that state of weakness, and suffer the enemy to approach more nearly than at other times. These birds, like the rev user, and indeed the other species of the genus, subsist in a great degree on fish. They fly near the surface of the water, with great apparent vigour, though sel dom to any great distance. Their sharp, serrated, and hooked bills are admirably adapted to secure their prey, which is scarcely ever observed, notwithAtanding all its lubricity, to elude their grasp. See Ares, Plate 1X. fig. 4 For the Smew, see Avss, Plate IX. fig. 6.