THE HOODED MERGANSER. 763 
brown, blackening on lower scapulars; wings the same with traces of white on 
edges of speculum; lower breast and belly white, shaded with brownish on 
crissum ; bill dusky, orange at base and on lower mandible. Jmmature: Similar 
to adult female, but crest undeveloped. Length 17.00-19.00 (431.8-482.6) ; av. of 
five males: wing 7.63 (193.8); tail 3.60 (91.4); bill 1.56 (39.6); tarsus 1.28 
(32.5). Females average somewhat smaller. 
Recognition Marks.—Larger than a Teal; very conspicuously round-crested. 
The male even at a superficial glance could be confused only with a Bufflehead 
(Charitonetta albeola). It differs from it in that the white of crest does not come 
to the edge; and, of course, in its entirely different bill. On more quiet waters,— 
ponds and sluggish streams. 
Nesting.—WNest: in a hole of a tree or stump, lined with grasses, etc., and 
feathers. Eggs: 10-12, sometimes more, pale buffy white. Av. size, 2.10 x 1.75 
(53-3 * 44.5). Season: c. May ist; one brood. 
General Range.—North America generally, south to Mexico and Cuba, 
breeding nearly thruout its range. Casual in Europe. 
Range in Washington.—Rather common migrant thruout the State; spar- 
ingly resident in summer. 
Authorities.—Baird, Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv. IX. 1858, p. 816. T. C&S. Rh. 
IDES Iss Jp 18%: 18, 
Specimens.—(U. of W.) Prov. B. BN. 
THE male of this beautiful little duck is even superior in coloring to that 
of the foregoing species, being in many respects fully the equal of that élégant 
among the water-fowl, the male Wood Duck. Like the other Mergansers, it 
travels under more than one alias, being known as Hooded Shelldrake, Hairy- 
head, and Water Pheasant, the last name being perhaps the most appropriate. 
In Washington this is the rarest of the three Mergansers, excepting in 
spring, when it is fairly common. On the Nisqually Flats I have found it in 
considerable numbers in March, travelling in small flocks of six or eight. Its 
flight is very swift and eccentric, resembling greatly that of the Green-winged 
Teal, for which the bird is easily mistaken in the faint light of early morning 
or evening. The call includes a variety of guttural chattering notes. 
Unlike the two larger species, this bird is seldom found in swift-running 
water, seeming to prefer the quiet streams and ponds where it can catch 
tadpoles, small fish, and water insects, without undue exertion in diving. 
During early March the flocks separate into pairs, and late in April all 
retire to fresh water to breed, the majority going north of the United States, 
but many remaining to nest alcng the northern border. About the first of 
May a pair may occasionally be found nesting near any one of the smaller 
unfrequented lakes of Washington, a natural hollow or large woodpecker hole 
in a tree near the water being selected for a nesting place. The nest is located 
at an elevation of from twenty to sometimes sixty feet from the ground, the 
composition being mainly weeds and grass, with a thick inner lining of feath- 
