BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 



67 



HOODED MERGANSER {Lophodytes cucullatus). 



Common or local names: Hooded Sheldrake; Hairy Crown; Hairy Head; Wood Shel- 

 drake; Swamp Sheldrake; Mud Sheldrake; Saw-bill Diver. 



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Males and Female. 



Length. — 16.50 to 18 inches. 



Adult Male. — Head, neck and back bkick, a broad white patch extending 

 from back of eye backward, with a narrow black border, forming a 

 nearly semicircular crest when erected; if lowered, flattened and ex- 

 tended backward; two black bands extending from upper back toward 

 breast before the bend of the wing; flanks grayish brown before, grading 

 into reddish brown, crossed by fine wavy black lines; rest of under 

 parts white; fore wing gray; wing patch and some long feathers on 

 the back white; wing with two black bars, one before the white patch, 

 the other crossing it; bill black; iris yellow; feet light brown; claws 

 dusky. 



Adult Female. — ■ Chin and throat light; rest of head, with bushy crest, dull 

 reddish brown, usually paler on cheeks; rest of upper parts sooty 

 brown, inconspicuously barred; wing with a wlute patch divided by 

 a dusky bar; flanks like upper parts; upper breast lighter; rest of 

 under parts white; bill orange and blackish; feet light brownish. 



Young. — Similar; but crest smaller. 



Immature Male. — Head and neck light brown or grayish brown; neck 

 blotched with black; crest brownish white, with brown edge; other- 

 wise much like female. 



Field Marks. — No other Duck except the male Buflflehead has the triangular 

 wliite patch on head and crest; but he has no chestnut on sides, which 

 are white. This Merganser may be distinguislied from other Ducks by 

 its long crest and slim bill; the female is much smaller than other 

 Mergansers, head and neck darker and crest cinnamon and bushy. 



