HOODED MERGANSER 417 



bass or pickerel, by eating thousands of small 

 fry. 



The male bird has his crest evenly and clean- 

 ly cut; from forehead to nape a large white 

 area of hair-like feathers, bordered and sharply 

 defined with jet black, this color also on head, 

 neck and upper parts; lower part of neck and 

 under parts white; the sides and flanks brown- 

 ish red, finely and evenly pencilled with black 

 lines. White speculum in wing, with two black 

 bars crossing it. Bill black; eyes yellow, feet 

 light brown with black nails. 



The head and neck of the female is a grayish 

 brown, darker on the crown. Upper parts and 

 sides a dull dark brown. Feet, eyes and bill 

 as in the male. 



The length of this species is about eighteen 

 inches; the extent from twenty-four to twenty- 

 six inches. 



This species is much more of a vegetarian 

 than any other of the family, and in conse- 

 quence its flesh ranks higher as food. As a 

 table bird it is nearly as good as any of the 

 shoal water ducks. 



