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HOODED MERGANSER. 
Afergus cucullatus, SeLBy. JeENyNS Eyton 
“  fuscus, LatHAM. GOULD, TEMMINCK. 
Mergus—A Diver. Cucullatus—Hooded, 
Tuts is another very neat species. It belongs to North 
America, coming southwards from Hudson’s Bay to the United 
States and Mexico, but has only occurred in Europe as a 
rare and occasional straggler. It has been observed in France. 
It is not unfrequent along the coast, but prefers inland waters 
ana smaller creeks or ponds to those which are larger. 
In this country one of these birds was obtained near 
Yarmouth, Norfolk, in the winter of 1829. One in Suffolk; 
one at Benton Park, the seat of Anthony Ralph Biddulph, 
Esq.; and one near Bangor, in Wales, in the winter of 
1830-31. 
Two specimens have been obtained in Ireland. 
They arrive from the north in October, and go farther south 
according to the weather of the season. They make their 
retrograde movement from the beginning of March to the 
middle of May. ‘They migrate in small flocks without any 
order. 
The mother is very attentive to her young—the male leaving 
her as soon as she begins to sit. These birds generally go 
in small flocks of from five or six to ten. They are, Audubon 
says, eaten by some persons, but this qualified mode of 
expression leads to the opinion that they do not by their innate 
excellence contribute much to ‘la haute cuisine.’ 
They are extremely quick in flight, active in their movements, 
and most expert divers. 
They feed on snails, tadpoles, and insects. 
VOL. VII. H 
