HOODED MERGANSER. 255 



where small fish in the near-by waters would be most 

 abundant. They consume immense numbers of fish, and 

 the presence of a few Mergansers, no matter of what 

 species, on a trout lake or stream, means great loss to 

 the sportsman, as the fry have no chance of escaping the 

 rapid movements of these hungry, energetic birds. 



Their progress under water is extremely rapid, and 

 the wings as well as the feet are used as means of propul- 

 sion, perhaps more dependence being placed upon the 

 wings, and they may be said to fly beneath the surface. 

 The female carries the young down to the water in her 

 bill, and the little creatures are at once entirely at home 

 in the element; diving, and sporting with each other as 

 if they had become perfected by long practice, instead of 

 its being their first experience. 



The Hooded Merganser appears to be equally as 

 numerous in the autumn and winter in the interior of the 

 United States as on the sea-coast, and frequents the 

 lakes in company with the larger species of Ducks, or is 

 seen rapidly passing over the surface of the rivers. On 

 the wing it is one of the swiftest Ducks that fly, and it 

 hurls itself through the air with almost the velocity of a 

 bullet. Generally it proceeds in a direct line, but if it 

 is alarmed at any object suddenly appearing before it, 

 the course is changed with the swiftness of thought, 

 and a detour made before again taking the first line of 

 progression. Sometimes, without apparent reason, the 

 course will be altered, and away it shoots at right angles 

 to the first route; and again, it vacillates as though un- 

 certain which way to take, or as if it was looking for a 

 good feeding place. Usually five or six, but more fre- 

 quently a pair, are seen flying together, and often, on 

 dull days when the lookout in a blind is somewhat re- 

 laxed, and the sportsman is consoling himself for lack of 



