248 



N A T A T R E S'. 



which breeds away to the northward, and visits us in 

 great numbers during Winter, being found almost 

 everywhere on the Atlantic coast. They are a noisy, 

 lively species, and owing to their reiterated cries, 

 they have been called " Noisy Ducks ; " they have, 

 however, other names applied to them, such as " Old 

 Wives" and " Old Squaws." 



Hooded Merganser. 



With the Hooded Merganser we must close our 

 brief notices of the Ducks. This showy and elegant 

 bird is more an inhabitant of our western and 

 southern waters than of the eastern coast. It can- 

 not then be said to be an abundant species in Penn- 

 sylvania. It breeds along the Mississippi, the Ohio, 

 and the great Lakes, as well as further northward, 

 and during Winter it is said sometimes to retire as 

 far southward as Mexico. The plumage of this bird 

 is indeed very beautiful. The thick, flat, tufted crest 

 which covers the whole head, and much resembles a 



