LOPHODYTES. 231 
Lophodytes cucullatus, Scl. P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 369*; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds 
N. Amer. ii. p. 121°; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 187, 328°; A. O. U. Check-l. N.-Amer. 
Birds, 2nd ed. p. 487; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 468 °. 
Supra nigerrimus, interscapulio, uropygio laterali et supracaudalibus nigricanti-brunneis ; tectricibus alarum 
cano-griseis, primariis brunneis, tectricibus majoribus nigris albo terminatis; secundariis intimis albo 
extus marginatis, longioribus medialiter albo striatis; rectricibus brunneis, anguste albido terminatis ; 
pileo valde cristato nigro, criste postice plumis albis, nigro terminatis; capitis lateribus posticis quoque 
albis, plagam albam magnam formantibus; collo undique et gutture nigris; torque collari interrupto 
albo, plumis nigris albo marginatis; prepectore laterali fascia nigra ornata, altera inferiore alba, 
plumis nigro terminatis ; corpore reliquo subtus albo, lateribus et hypochondriis vinaceo-rufescentibus, 
nigro anguste transfasciatis; subcaudalibus sordide albis, brunneo vermiculatis; subalaribus albis, 
externis brunneis ; axillaribus pure albis ; alis subtus griseis: rostro nigro; pedibus flavescenti-brunneis ; 
iride lete flava. Long. tota circa 18°5, ale 7°5, caude 4°0, culm. 1°6, tarsi 1:25, (Descr. maris adulti 
ex Tarpon Springs, Florida. Mus. nostr.) 
9 ad. Supra nigricans, pileo, collo et interscapulio saturate cinerascenti-brunneis; capitis lateribus pallide 
cinereis; crista rufescenti-brunnea, apicem versus pallidiore; mento gulaque rufescenti-brunneis ; 
prepectore, corporis lateribus et hypochondriis saturate cinerascenti-brunneis, plumis pallide marginatis; 
corpore reliquo subtus pure albo, subcaudalibus longioribus brunneis albo marmoratis; alis caudaque sicut 
in mari coloratis; maxilla nigra, marginibus ejus et mandibula aurantiacis; pedibus fuscis ; iride corylina. 
Long. tota circa 18°0, ale 7:6, caude 4:0, culm. 1°55, tarsi 1°25. (Descr. maris adulti ex Jalapa. 
Mus. nostr.) | 
Hab. Norra America generally, breeding nearly throughout its range’—-Mexico, Rio 
Bravo del Norte near Matamoros (Berlandier®), Valley of Mexico (Herrera ®), 
Jalapa (De Oca*), Orizaba (Sumichrast ?).— Europe, casual’. 
L. cucullatus is confined to North America, wintering in the Southern United States 
and migrating in summer to the wooded regions of the north, where it breeds. It has 
been observed several times in Mexico. 
In habits the species resembles its larger relatives. It subsists on fish, and its 
powers of diving are extraordinary. The Hooded Merganser is said to be a very wary 
bird and to have a remarkably swift flight. The nest is always placed in a hollow 
tree, and the cavity is lined with fine dry grass, leaves, and down. 
Order COLUMBZE*. 
The Pigeons are cosmopolitan, and form a large Order of birds, comprising nearly 
six hundred species. In all recent schemes of classification the Order Columbe has 
been placed in the vicinity of the Galline or Game-Birds, to which some of the 
Ground-Pigeons, such as Otidiphaps and Goura of New Guinea, show much affinity. 
The Columbe are schizognathous birds, with schizorhinal nostrils and basipterygoid 
processes in the skull. ‘The bill is characteristic, the tip being hard and swollen, and 
the basal portion covered with a soft skin, in which the nostrils, overhung by an 
* As with the Herons and some of the other Orders, I have been assisted in my description of the Pigeons 
by my friend Dr. Bowdler Sharpe.—/. D. G. 
