164 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



the lamellae of the mandibles developed into prominent serrations. 

 The)' feed principally upon fish, and their flesh is consequently 

 somewhat rank and fishy, although the Hooded Merganser is 

 usually accounted quite palatable. 



Genus Merganser Brisson. 



27. (129). Merga7iser ami'rica)ius {C^ss.). American Mergan- 

 ser. 



The American Merganser is a fairly common migrant in Iowa, 

 being reported by most observers. It is a cold weather bird, 

 appearing early in the spring with the first open water, and late 

 in the fall. Dr. F. G. Richardson notes that in Cerro Gordo 

 county he has observed only one sex in a migrating flock, either 

 all males or all females. The American Merganser has been 

 found breeding in northern Iowa by Mr. Preston of Newton, Iowa, 

 according to W. W.- Cooke (Bird Migr. in Miss. Val., 1884-5, 

 60-61). There seems to be no recent nesting record, but Dr. C. 

 C. Smith has seen them as late as May 16, in Winneshiek county. 

 W. H. Bingaman reports the species as a " winter resident in 

 Kossuth county ; on open water along the Des Moines River, 

 caused by springs. At these open holes this species is generall}^ 

 found; however, verj' wild. Three were shot at our annual rab- 

 bit hunt last winter. Saw two birds Dec. 30, 1905." 



28. (1.30). Merganser serrator (Linn.). Red-breasted Mer- 

 ganser. 



Most observers report the Red-breasted Merganser as a migrant, 

 but rarer than the preceding species in Iowa. Three observers 

 — Henning (Boone), Peck (Blackhawk), and Berry (Linn), report 

 it as more common than the American Merganser. It usually 

 migrates at the same time as that species, appearing just as the 

 streams and lakes are opening up in the .spring or at freezing 

 time in the fall. The Red-breasted Merganser has not been 

 known to nest in Iowa. 



Genu's Lophodytes Reichenbach. 



29. (131)- LopJiodytes aicuUatiis (Linn.). Hooded Merganser. 

 This striking little Merganser is tolerably common throughout 



Iowa as a migrant, and still nests occasionally in the state. Like 



