AON-JXDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. iS: 



Family ANATID^L. Genus Mergus. 



Sub-fainily MERGIN.^. 



HOODED MERGANSER. 



Mergus cucullatus, LiimcBus. 



(British : Rare nomadic autumn and winter migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



Breeding area : Northern Nearctic region. Tlie 

 Hooded Merganser breeds in Arctic and north temperate 

 North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, as far 

 north as the Arctic Circle, and as far south as lat. 45°. 



Breeding habits : The Hooded Merganser returns 

 to its summer haunts as soon as they are free from ice. 

 In winter this species is gregarious, but during the 

 nesting season the flocks disperse and live in scattered 

 pairs. The favourite breeding grounds of this Merganser 

 are wooded areas, in which the timber is old, where 

 lakes, streams, and swamps occur amongst the trees and 

 break the monotony of the forests. It probably mates 

 for life, although definite information is wanting. It 

 should be an easy matter to learn whether the same 

 nesting places are resorted to each year. The nest is 

 made in a hole in a tree, or in a hollow, fallen log. It is 

 probable that the bird makes use of a hole in a bank 

 in districts where the trees are unsuitable. No nest is 

 made beyond a plentiful lining of down, which gradually 

 accumulates as the eggs are laid. The bird is a close 

 sitter, but when flushed flies straight off to the nearest 

 water without any demonstration of anxiety. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Hooded Merganser are from fi\'e to 

 nine in number. They are smooth in texture, polished, 

 remarkably rotund — a shape, it may be remarked, very 



