and aquatic plants.
to the extent I have represented, and that in

fish, worms,

The food consists of mollusks,
Mr. Blyth assures me that the crest is capable of erection
veautiful appendage,
a bright orange-red.

n the

this state it forms a most | and adds greatly to the beauty of the bird, especially
breeding-season, when the bill becomes of
On reference to the opposite Plate, it will at once be seen how greatly the two sexes differ in colour and
crest less developed and being devoid of the body-tints which render

ornamentation, the fem ile having the

the male so conspicuous.
Could I bave furnished a more detailed account of this bird, I should have had much pleasure in so doing ;
habits and economy seem to be entirely unknown. Mr. Eyton

but unfortunately the peculiarities of its
_ and therefore proposed for it the generic name

allied to the Mergansers

appears to have considered it to be
ill and crest would induce most persons to entertain the

of Merzoides ; and certainly the form of the |
jird would show that it does not belong

same opinion ; but a further examination of the structure of the

to the Mi "oine.
The following descriptions of the two sexes are from the pen of Mr. Jerdon, a gentleman who has had

ties of observing the bird in a state of nature—an advantage I have not enjoyed.

ample opportunt
cheeks, throat, and upper part of the neck reddish bay; the feathers on the crown elon-

‘* Male : head,
gated and of a silky texture, forming a cres
the bend of the wing, a large spot on each side of the back, the speculum, the base of

t somewhat paler than the rest of the head; back, wings, and

tail yellowish brown ;
the primary quills, and the flanks white; lower part of the neck, breast, and abdomen deep black; bill
bright vermilion-red, the tip white ; irides red; legs orange-red.

“The female has the upper parts yellowish brown, darker on the head and neck, and the crest less deve-
loped ; half of the speculum greyish white, the other pale-brown ; base of the quills white, tinged with
brown; breast and flanks yellowish brown ; belly grey ;_ bill and feet reddish brown.”

The Plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size.