HOODED MERGANSER. 283 



formed tliat otlier instances of the capture of birds of tins 

 species had occurred. 



Since that period T. C. Eyton, Esq. has obtained a speci- 

 men which was killed in the Menai Straits, near Bangor, in 

 the winter of 1830-81; Mr. Hoy, of Stoke Nayland, in 

 Suffolk, obtained an adult male as recorded in the Natu- 

 ralist ; and I have heard of another example that was shot at 

 Benton Park, the estate of Anthony Ralph Biddulph, Esq. 



Though only an accidental visiter to this country, or even 

 to Europe, the Hooded Merganser is well known in North 

 America, and to the ornithologists of that extensive conti- 

 nent we must refer for an account of the habits of this 

 species. Mr. Audubon writes as follow^s : — " Excepting the 

 Smew, or White Nun, the Hooded Merganser is the hand- 

 somest of its family. Its broad and rounded crest of pure 

 while, with an edging of jetty black, and which it closes or 

 spreads out at pleasure, renders the male of this species con- 

 spicuous on the waters to which it resorts. The activity of 

 its motions, the rapidity of its flight, and its other habits, 

 contribute to render it a pleasing object to the student of 

 nature, not less than to the sportsman. Its flesh, however, 

 has a fishy taste and odour, although it is relished by some 

 persons. It seems to prefer fresh water, and is by no means 

 very frequent along the sea coast. Long, narrow, and mode- 

 rately deep creeks, or small ponds, are more frequented by 

 it than large rivers or lakes. On the waters of the western 

 and southern States these Mergansers are seen to arrive from 

 the north early in October, but, generally, later than many 

 species of Ducks, although sooner than either the Red- 

 breasted Merganser, or the Goosander. At the approach of 

 night, a person standing still on the banks of such a river as 

 the Ohio, first hears the well-known sovind of wings whistling 

 through the air, presently after, a different noise, as if pro- 

 duced by an eagle stooping on her prey, when gliding down- 



