2l(i DUCK SHOOTING. 



Other to remain in peaceful occupancy. The nest was 

 found to contain eighteen fresh eggs, of which one- 

 third belonged to the merganser, and as the nest was 

 lined with the down of the merganser it appeared prob- 

 able this bird was the rightful owner of the premises." 



Mr. Audubon stated that the hooded merganser bred 

 in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana ; and Dr. Bachman be- 

 lieved that it breeds in South Carolina. It certainly 

 breeds in Florida. During its migrations, the hairy- 

 head, as it is often called, is common in New England, 

 and generally all along the coast, at least as far as 

 South Carolina. In the marshes of Currituck Sound 

 I have seen them in great numbers, sometimes in flocks 

 of over one hundred individuals. 



The hooded merganser is a bird of exceedingly 

 swift flight, and may often be taken at a little distance 

 for a canvas-back or black-head, as it flies swiftly to- 

 ward one. It is an unsuspicious bird, coming up read- 

 ily to decoys, striking the water with a swift rush and, 

 for a few moments after alighting, swimming about 

 alertly, as if to observe its surroundings. Usually it 

 flies with great directness, and is not easily frightened 

 into changing its course. The hooded merganser is 

 an extremely expert swimmer and diver, and it is a 

 beautiful sight to watch a small body of them, as one 

 sometimes may, when they are feeding without knowl- 

 edge of the presence of an enemy. At such times the 

 startling plumage of the male is seen to very great ad- 

 vantage, and one is greatly attracted by the beauty of 

 his plumage and the grace of his motions. 



