HOODED MERGANSER 
131. Lophodytes cucullatus. 17 in. 
Bill short compared to those of other mergansers, and 
black. It is not apt to be mistaken for any other duck, 
because of its small size and the large crest with which 
both sexes are adorned, that of the male being black 
with a large, white patch, and that of the female plain 
brown. 
The male has the power of raising or lowering his 
erest; when excited he will at times repeatedly open 
and shut it like a fan. When at a distance on the 
water, the male might possibly be mistaken for the 
Bufile-head, as that species also has white on the head, 
but its back also is largely white. Both male and 
female have yellow eyes. 
Notes.—Low, muttered croakings. 
Nest.—In holes of trees on the banks of, or near, 
streams or lakes. The bottom of the cavity is lined 
with grasses and down, and on this they lay 8 to 12 
grayish white eggs (2.15x 1.70); May, June. 
Range.—Breeds locally throughout the U. 8., but most 
abundantly north of our borders; winters in the South. 
