OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 449 



deeply indented rocky shore to the more open sea. It is gregarious during the 

 latter season, although the flocks are never very large, and not only frequents 

 the sea, but visits inland waters, especially flooded tracts of country. Like its 

 allies it is an accomplished diver, obtaining most of its food under the surface. 

 It also flies with great speed, but is clumsy enough on land, shuffling along in 

 an awkward manner with its breast touching the ground or nearly so. The food 

 of this Merganser is composed almost exclusively of fish, but crustaceans and 

 various kinds of aquatic insects are also sought. It is said to be a shy, wary bird, 

 preferring to elude pursuit by diving rather than flying, and so expert at this as 

 to disappear very often at the flash of the gun, and rising again uninjured far out 

 of range. The note of this species does not differ from that of allied birds. 

 During winter the Hooded Merganser sometimes associates with other Ducks, 

 and in our Islands has been observed to do so with its ally, the Ked-breasted 

 Merganser. 



Nidification. The breeding grounds of the Hooded Merganser are lake 

 and river districts where plenty of trees occur ; in this respect it exactly resembles 

 its two allies, the Smew and the Goosander. The nest is made in a hole of a 

 tree or in a hollow fallen log. The eggs are at first laid on the powdered wood, 

 but gradually a thick warm bed of down accumulates, plucked from the body of 

 the female. The eggs are from five to eight in number, pure white in colour, 

 smooth in texture, and remarkably rotund ; the latter shape, it may be remarked, 

 is very prevalent among birds nesting in holes where space is limited. They 

 measure on an average 2'1 inches in length by 1'7 inch in breadth. The down 

 tufts are moderate in size, and very pale grey in colour. The female performs 

 the task of incubation, which is said to last thirty-one days. She then conveys 

 her chicks to the water in her bill one by one, where they are remarkably active, 

 swimming and diving with ease. It is not known that more than one brood is 

 reared in the year. 



Diagnostic characters (Nuptial plumage), Lophodytes, with the head 

 and upper neck black, ornamented with a very conspicuous crest, white margined 

 with black, and with two black crescentic marks on each side of the breast (adult 

 male) ; with the head (crested) and upper neck uniform brown, and the under- 

 parts below the neck uniform white (adult female). Length, 17 to 19 inches. 



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