396 BIRDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



rank weeds on the borders of lakes, in Maine and on Lake 

 Michigan. 



The Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus, is a northern 

 bird, found at the utmost limits of the fur countries, and one 

 of the last to quit those desolate regions, when the frost makes 

 it impossible for them to remain, by cutting off their supplies 

 of food. In the winter, it ranges through the United States, 

 and is found on the ocean and the inland waters. Some of 

 them remain through the breeding season, and resort to the 

 lakes, making nests of withered grass and feathers, on their 

 grassy borders. These appear to be their favorite resorts, and 

 those which frequent the seaside, do it from necessity rather 

 than from choice. They are expert divers, and so quick in 

 their motions, that they can take warning from the flash of the 

 pan, in time to avoid the shot of the gunner ; if they chance 

 to be wounded, they escape under water, so that it is useless 

 to pursue them. Mr. Cabot and others have found this bird in 

 our State. 



The Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo, is abundant in winter 

 on the islands near Boston and the coast of Massachusetts, 

 where most of them remain in autumn, winter, and the early 

 part of spring. Nuttall speaks of them as breeding on the 

 islands, near the mouth of the harbor. They are never seen 

 on fresh water, since they subsist entirely on fish taken from 

 the sea. In taking them, these birds are so expert, that a fish 

 can hardly escape them ; they swim under water with great 

 rapidity, and almost always rise with their prey in their bill. 

 If the fish is very large, they beat it to pieces on the shore ; if 

 they have caught it by the wrong end, they toss it in the air, 

 and catch it by the head as it falls, so that the fins may pre- 

 sent no obstacle to its passing down the throat. When thus 

 employed, and when at rest, they are so constantly on their 

 guard, that it is very difficult to approach them ; and if the 

 gunner has succeeded in wounding one, it is useless for him to 

 pursue, since both old and young sail under water, using their 



