284 HOODED MERGANSER. 



farther north, where these are wanting, the ground 

 is resorted to.* 



In form and colouring the Hooded Merganser 

 resembles the smew nearer than the other species. 

 The plumage of the head is very ample, and is capable 

 of being converted at will into a flat rounded crest ; 

 this, with the neck, is blackish green, and behind 

 the eye there is a large triangular spot of pure 

 white bordered exteriorly with black, appearing very 

 conspicuous when the crest is displayed ; the breast 

 and under parts are white, two crescent-formed bars 

 of black crossing the sides of the former ; flanks un 

 dulated with yellowish brown and black ; the wing 

 is crossed by a broad bar of white, divided by a 

 narrow band of black at the base of the secondaries. 



The specimen figured by Mr. Selby had the chin 

 greyish white, speckled with pale brocoli-bro\vn ; 

 crown of the head inclining to liver-brown; the 

 occipital crest, large and semicircular, passing into 

 pale reddish brown. Face, cheeks, and neck, pale 

 brocoli-brown or mouse-colour ; breast and sides of 

 the lower part of the neck brocoli-brown, deeply 

 margined with pale grey ; upper parts of the body 

 brownish black, the feathers upon the mantle and 

 scapulars being margined with obscure greyish 

 brown ; outer edges of the exterior webs of the 

 secondaries white, forming a small speculum in the 

 midst of the wing ; under plumage white ; the side^ 

 and flanks brocoli-brown with paler margins. Tail 

 of fourteen feathers, deep clove brown ; legs and 

 feet brown, tinged with red. f 



* Audubon. + Selby. 



