Bird Life of North Dakota 15 



full grown, but many of them were unable to fly, though they swam and 

 dove like seals. This is the same colony visited by Bent in 1901, when it 

 numbered 150 birds. 



16. Pelecanits erythrorliynchos Gniclin. White Pelican. 



CouEs, 1878, p. 654; an old female was shot from the steamer as we neared Pem- 

 bina, and I heard of one or two others shot on the Red River in May. The species 

 was only once again observed, near Mouse River early in September. CouES, 1893, 

 p. 172; October 18, 1804, a pelican was killed, in Emmons County, by the Lewis and 

 Clark Expedition, and on October 19 they saw pelicans in a large pond in the same 

 county. Maximilian records seeing large flocks of pelicans October 11 ,1833, near 

 Fort Union. Thw.mtEs, iqo6. p. iqq; bort Union, (Jciober 16, ifi.^.^. white pelicans 

 passed in large flocks. Judd, 1917, p. 6; common migrant, said to have been found 

 breeding at the east end of Devils Lake. Bailey, 1918, p. 29; records a flock of 

 about sixty on Sweetwater Lake, Ramsey County. 



In 1920 an old resident told me that 'many years ago a few nested at 

 Pelican Bay, Devils Lake. Five were seen July 15, 1920, at Minnewaukan 

 Bay. On May 10, 1921, six came into Creel Bay, and on July 19, forty 

 were observed on a small island in Minnewaukan Bay. Residents of the 

 central part of the state record that a few breed there. 



17. Mcrgus amcricanns Cassin. Merganser. 



JUDD, 1917, p. 6; sometimes shot by hunters in the fall; none were seen by the 

 writer in the summer. 



The Museum of the University of North Dakota has a mounted speci- 

 men labelled Bismarck. Mr. J. D. Allen, of Mandan, mounted a male sent 

 in from Bismarck, which was taken March 7, 192 1, by W. E. Cleveland. 



The merganser occurs in small colonies in timber in the region of Devils 

 Lake. A few males were seen in the Turtle Mountains. Sets of this species 

 were completed from about May 26 to June i, 192 1. In one colony most of 

 the eggs hatched from June 20 to 25. 



18. Alcrgiis scrrator Linnaus. Red-breasted Merganser. 

 JuDD, 1917, p. 6; tolerably common fall migrant. 



None were seen alive, but a fine mounted male is in the Williams Collec- 

 tion at Grafton, dated April 7, 1919. There is also one in the University 

 of North Dakota Museum, labelled Devils Lake. There is a mounted male 

 in the Williams Collection taken at Mandan, April 5, 1905, by J. D. Allen. 



19. Lophodytcs cucullafus (Linnaeus). Hooded Merganser. 



CouES, 1874, p. 585; breeds in North Dakota. CouES, 1878, p. 654; this is the 

 only species of the genus actually observed. Specimens were taken at the Turtle 

 Mountains, August 5 and 7, and at Mouse River, October i, 1873. Allen, 1875, p. 

 68; met with near the head of Heart River about July i, 1874, and also in September, 

 1874, but not seen elsewhere. Job. 1899, P. 162; in 1890, about the first of June a 

 pair were seen swimming in the Sheyenne River. BenT, 1901, p. 331 ; one shot in 

 Steele County, Junq 12, 1901, and six, seen in Nelson County, June 15, 1901. Abbott, 



1916, p. 3; found one hooded merganser breeding, the only fish duck observed. Judd, 



1917. P- 7; saw one flock of young in the Big Coulee. Bailey, 1919, p. iii; saw a 

 female hooded merganser at Sweetwater Lake. Freem.iln, 1919, p. 10; frequently 

 seen in the Red River, May 13 to October 21. 



