HOODED MERGANSER. 



HOODED SHELLDRAKE. 

 LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS. 



Char. Male: upper parts black; wings and tail with a brownish 

 tinge; a triangular patch of white on the nape; under parts white, the 

 breast with two crescentic stripes of black, and sides varied with lines 

 of yellowish brown ; bill leaden blue, with a white nail ; legs dull red. 

 Length about 19 inches. Female is rather smaller; upper parts dark 

 brown ; crest reddish brown ; under parts white ; breast pale brown. 



Nest. In a hole in tree, or stump, or fallen log, lined with grass and 

 leaves covered with down. 



Eggs. 5-1S (usually about 8) ; ivory white; 2.10 X 1.75. 



This elegant species is peculiar to North America, and in- 

 habits the interior and northern parts of the fur countries to 

 their utmost limits. It is also among the latest of the Anatid.^ 

 to quit those cold and desolate regions. It makes a nest of 

 withered grass and feathers in retired and unfrequented places, 

 by the grassy borders of rivers and lakes. According to Au- 

 dubon, it also breeds around the lagoons of the Ohio, and on 

 the Great Northwestern Lakes of the interior. On the River 

 St. Peters, in the 45th parallel, Mr. Say observed examples on 

 the 1 8th of July, — no doubt in the same place where they had 



