DIVERS—COLD-WEATHER DIVERS. 43 
Genus MERGANSER. 
MERGANSER Serrator—RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.— 
THabitat—Northern North America, coastwise, and 
the Great Lakes; south to Gulf of Mexico, those of 
the interior following the Mississippi. This duck 
closely follows the shelldrake during both mi- 
grations, feeds upon the same food and _ inhabits 
grounds in a like manner. 
Its clutch is about eight dirty greenish-white eggs, 
and it builds a clumsy nest on the ground, in the in- 
terior of which finer material is used, lined with feath- 
ers; whereas the shelldrake often builds in low 
branches of trees, on rocks, etc., at the water’s edge, 
making a less rude nest. Length 23.50; wing 8.80; 
tarus 1.90; extent 30.00; middle toe 2.00. 
Genus Lophodytes. 
Lophodytes cucullatus—HoovED MERGANSER.—Habi- 
tat—North America at large, coastwise and_ in- 
terior; south to the Rio Grande, Mexico and Central 
America. This handsome diver, the male adorned 
with an elegant black and white topee, contrasting 
with the flimsy headdress of the female, passes over 
the frost line before the ice has disappeared from our 
large lakes and streams. It stays but a brief period, 
following up the high spring water, working its way 
rapidly to the British Possessions. The second soon 
follows, which passes on to the Canadian boundary 
and northern states. The third stays with us and 
scatters over the country after the manner of the wood- 
duck and bluewinged teal of the non-divers, and 
breeds in most of the states; thus, with the southern 
