50 MEMOIRS OF THE NUTTALL ORNITHOLOGICAL CLUB 



to swim, and were forced to walk, but continued their bobbing and ducking ; even 

 when some of them were actually on terra firma, their antics, appropriate only to 

 the water, still continued. It was indeed a ludicrous sight. Not until the females 

 began carelessly to preen themselves did the ardor of the males cool, and they 

 followed suit. I was able to watch all this clearly from my house by the aid of 

 a telescope, and the birds were of course entirely unsuspecting. 



The migration and numbers of the Red-breasted Merganser, the distribution 

 of the sexes and of the immature birds and adults, are all subjects of interest 

 which I have studied in some detail at Ipswich since the original Memoir was 

 published, and the results may be found in the Auk.^ 



45 [131] Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.). 



Hooded Merganser; "Hairy-crown." 



Not uncommon transient visitor. March 18 to April 14; September 28 to 

 December 20. 



I have seen this bird's courtship performance in captivity. A pair were 

 swimming about in a pool ; both had their tails spread and flat on the water. The 

 male elevated and depressed — opened and closed — his wonderfully spectacular 

 crest, and at times puffed out the neck. From time to time he elevated his head, 

 pointing his black bill straight up and rapidly opening and closing it. The female 

 also elevated her crest at times. 



46 [132] Anas platyrhynchos Linn. 



Mallard. 



Uncommon and irregular transient visitor; very rare in winter. March 2j 

 to May i; September 22 to December 2 (January i). 



As illustrating the irregularity of the occurrence of this bird in Essex County, 

 it may be noted that after the unusual flight in 1904 recorded in the original 

 Memoir, none was seen at Wenham Lake in the four succeeding years. - 



On October 13, 1913, I saw a female Mallard in company with eight or ten 

 Surf Scoters off the beach at Ipswich. 



The courtship of the Mallard I have already described.* 



■ 1 Townsend, C. W. Auk, vol. 28, p. 343, 191 1. 

 - Phillips, J. C. Auk, vol. 28, p. igo, 191 1. 

 3 Townsend, C. W. Auk, vol. 33, p. 13, 1916. 



