230 MERGANSER CUCULLATUS. 



lined with a small quantity of down, and laying from five to 

 eight eggs, an inch and three-fourths in length, an inch and 

 three-eighths in breadth, and of a reddish-white colour. The 

 young, at first covered with down of a very dark brOAvn tint, 

 arc conveyed to the water by their mother, who carries them 

 gently in her bill, without the aid of the male, who deserts 

 her after incubation commences. Those Avhich leave the 

 United States set out from the middle of March to the begin- 

 ning of May. When migrating, they fly at a great height, 

 in small loose flocks, without any regard to order. Their 

 notes are a sort of rough grunt, resembling the syllables croo, 

 croo, and are the same in both sexes. The males at first 

 resemble the females, and do not acquire the full beauty of 

 their plumage until the third spring. 



In only a few instances this species has been met with in 

 Europe. Mr. Selby first added it to the British Fauna, 

 " upon the authority of a specimen that was killed at Yar- 

 mouth, in Norfolk, in the winter of 1829, the skin of which " 

 he obtained. It appeared to be a young female, and it is 

 added — " I have been informed that more instances have 

 occurred, all apparently females, or young males in the garb 

 of that sex." In Ireland it has once been obtained, at Dingle 

 Bay, on the coast of Kerry, by Dr. Chute. 



Young. — When fledged, the young differ little from the 

 adult female; their colours being similar, but the upper 

 parts more brown, the white on the throat dotted with 

 pale red, the white of the breast faintly barred with grey, 

 and the brown of the sides and below the tail more ex- 

 tended. 



Remarks. — Although not much superior in size to the 

 Smew, this species differs from it in having the bill longer, 

 and more slender, with the lamellae less numerous, much 

 more compressed, and abruptly terminated. Although these 

 lamclhTc differ from those of the large Mergansers, the Hooded 

 may be placed with them until some species having similar 

 characters be discovered. Mr. Selby states that the number 

 of tail-feathers in the present species is fourteen, and others 



