100 



HOODED MERGANSER. 



pecially fond of swift tide-ways, where they display considerable agility in capturing small 

 fishes, which constitute the principle portion of their food. 



MERGUS CUCULLATUS. 



Hooded Merganser. 



Mergus cucuHatus Linn.. Syst. Nat., I, 1766, 207. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sr. Cii. Form, rather slender. Size, small. Head, provided with long hood or crest. CoLon. Adult male. Uead 

 and neck all around and u))per parts, encroaching in a C(Jlar on lower neck, black with violet reflections on all but wings 

 and tail which are brownisli. Sides and flanks, chestnut-red finely banded with black. Remainder of under parts, triangu- 

 lar patch on side of head and crest, central stripe on tertiaries, outer margin oi secondaries, and tips of greater wing cov- 

 erts, white. Iris, orange, bill, black, and feet, dusky-orange. Adult female. Brown on head, neck, sides, and upperpor- 

 tions, and white beneath. Youny. Similar to tlie adult female. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Known by the peculiar crest and coloi-s as described. Distributed in summer in suitable localities from Florida, north- 

 ward ; wintering in tlie South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from North America. Length, 18-25: stretch, 26-50; wing, 7-20; tail, 3-9'^; bill, 

 !■• 60; tarsus', 1-30. LongJjsi; specimen, 19-25; greatest e.'itent of wing, 27-50; longest win;:, 7-90; tail, 4-55; bill, r70; tarsus, 

 1-40. Shortest .specimen, 17-25; smallest extent of wing, 25-50; shortest wing, 6-50; tail, 3-40; bill, 1-50; tarsus, 1'20. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed in holes of trees, composed of sticks, weeds, down, etc. E(jgs, six to ten in number, rather spherical in 

 form, and white in color. Dimensions from l-70x2-10 to 1-75 x2-15. 



HABITS. 



There are, perhaps, few Ducks which are more noticeable on the water than the Hood- 

 ed Mergansers, especially when excited enough to raise the prominent crest, for when they 

 are at rest or feeding, these feathers are laid flat. Like all members of the genus, they 

 dive exceedingly well and swim under the water with ease. I found tliese fine Mergan- 

 sers abundant on Indian River, Florida, in winter, and also on the St. John's, late in May, 

 and thus concluded tliat they bred in the State, a hypothesis which was confirmed by Mr. 

 Brewster who informs me that he saw the young there in company with their jiarents; 

 hence it is probable that they breed throughout our eastern section in favorable localitiesj 

 from Florida, northward, but their favorite nesting site appears to be the woods of North- 

 trn New England, wliere the eggs are placed in holes of trees. 



