HOODED MERGANSER. 22,7 



This bird rejoices in a variety of names, of which 

 water-pheasant, hairy-crown, hairy-head, saw-bill 

 diver, little saw-bill, swamp sheldrake, spike-bill and 

 cock-robin are the most familiar. 



The smew, Mergus alhellus, was reported by Audubon to have 

 been taken in Louisiana, near New Orleans, in 1817. The bird 

 was a female. Since that date no specimens have been reported as 

 taken within the United States. If the bird ever occurs on this 

 continent it is only an accidental straggler. It is perhaps more 

 likely that in the case of the specimen taken by Audubon there was 

 some mistake of identification. However, the description is given 

 here, taken from Mr. Elliot's "Wild Fowl" : "Adult male, general 

 plumage, white. A large patch at base of the bill, including the 

 lores and eyes, lower portion of nuchal crest, middle of the back and 

 two crescentic narrow lines on side of breast, outer edge of scapu- 

 lars and rump, jet black. Upper tail-coverts, gray; edges lighter. 

 Middle wing-coverts, white ; greater coverts and secondaries, black, 

 tipped with white. Primaries, blackish-brown. Tail, dark gray. 

 Sides and flanks undulated with fine black lines on a gray ground. 

 Bill, bluish ; nail, lighter. Iris, bluish white. Legs and feet, bluish 

 lead color ; webs, darker. Total length, about 16^ inches ; wing, 

 7 6-10; culmen, 1^4 ; tarsus, i]/?,. 



"Adult female.— Head and nape, chestnut brown; lores and 

 cheeks, brownish black. Throat and sides of neck, white. Upper 

 parts, brownish-gray, darkest on the rump ; some feathers on back 

 tipped with ashy gray. Sides and flanks, brownish-gray. Under 

 parts, white. Tail, brown-gray." 



