An Island Home of the American Merganser 



339 



Island (the westernmost of the group) ; and we followed him with eager interest 

 toward a cluster of arborvitae growing at the edge of the ten- or twelve-foot 

 bank. There, in a little nook, which was overhung by the low-spreading 

 branches of arborvitae 

 and surrounded by 

 projecting roots, we 

 rejoiced to see a female 

 Merganser on her nest. 



So accustomed had 

 the bird become to the 

 warden's daily visits 

 that she now remained 

 for a time and very 

 quietly met our admir- 

 ing gaze. The sharp 

 line across her neck, 

 setting off the rich 

 brown of the head from 

 the ashy gray of the 

 rest of the body, at 

 once determined the 

 species as Merganser 

 americanus. From 

 where we stood, we 

 could even note the 

 position of the nostrils 

 well forward on her 

 bill — another specific 

 character, which, how- 

 ever, one very seldom 

 has an opportunity to 

 observe in the field. Some long feathers stuck out from the back of her head 

 to form a sparse yet fairly conspicuous crest. 



When presently the Merganser departed from her nest, she disclosed five 

 eggs, which were resting on a mass of down in the midst of a loose collection 

 of sticks and leaves. At less than a yard's distance, the bank dropped abruptly 

 down to the beach, which was a couple of rods in width at that point. This 

 nesting-site on the fairly open ground differs considerably from those described 

 in most of the published accounts, and it very likely represents a modification 

 brought about by the security of its environment on an isolated group of islets. 

 The complement of five eggs was smaller, of course, than the typical number. 

 Another Merganser's nest, which the warden showed us on Middle Island, was 

 situated far under a stump cast up on the rock-strewn beach, and contained 

 nine or ten eggs. 



FEMALE AMERICAN MERGANSER FLYING FROM NEST 



