MERGANSERS. 99 



it will readily pass underneath it. It swims so deeply as to afford the 

 gunner but a small mark, and dives so quickly at the snap or flash of 

 his gun that he stands but a small chance of killing it. 



" On being surprised the Goosander may rise directly out of the 

 water, but more commonly pats the surface with his feet for some 

 yards and then rises to windward. A whole flock thus rising from 

 some foaming current affords a spirited scene. Once on the wing, the 

 flight is straight, strong, and rapid " (Langille). 



130. Merganser serra/tor (Linn.). BED-BREASTED MERGANSER; 



SHELLDRAKE. Ad. 6 . Whole head and throat black, more greenish above; 

 a white ring around the neck; a broad cinnamon-rufous band with black 

 streaks on the upper breast and sides of the lower neck ; lesser wing-coverts, 

 tips of greater ones, secondaries, breast, and belly white; rump and sides 

 finely barred with black and white. Ad. 9 and Im. Top and back of head 

 grayish brown washed with cinnamon-rufous; sides of the head and throat 

 cinnamon-rufous, paler on the throat ; rest of under parts white ; back and 

 tail ashy gray ; speculum white. L., 22-00 ; W., 9-00 ; Tar., 1-70 ; B. from 

 N., 1-80. 



Remarks. Adults of this and the preceding species may always be dis- 

 tinguished by the color of the breast ; females and young, by the differently 

 colored heads, while the position of the nostril is always diagnostic. 



Range. Northern parts of the northern hemisphere; in America breeds 

 from northern Illinois and New Brunswick northward to the arctic regions; 

 winters from near the southern limits of its breeding range southward to Cuba. 



Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, abundant T. V., Mch. 1 to 

 May 1 ; Oct. 15 to Dec. 1, a few winter. Sing Sing, common T. V., Dec. to 

 Apl. 30. Cambridge, casual, one instance, Oct. 



A'est, of leaves, grasses, mosses, etc., lined with down, on the ground near 

 water, among rocks or scrubby bushes. Eggs, six to twelve, creamy buff, 

 2-55 x 1-75. 



This is a more common species than the preceding, which it resem- 

 bles in habits. Its note is described as a " croak." 



131. IjOphodytescucullatus(Ziww.). HOODED MERGANSER. Ad. $. 

 Front part of large circular crest black ; remaining part white, bordered by 

 black ; rest of head, the neck, and back black ; breast and belly white; sides 

 cinnamon-rufous, finely barred with black. Ad. 9 . Upper throat white ; head, 

 neck, and upper breast grayish brown, more or less tinged with cinnamon, 

 especially on the small crest ; lower breast and belly white ; sides grayish 

 brown ; back fuscous. Im. Similar, but with no crest. L., IT'50 ; W., 7'50 ; 

 Tar., 1-10; B., 1-45. 



Range. North America generally, south in winter to Cuba and Mexico ; 

 breeds locally throughout its North American range. 



Washington, uncommon W. V. Long Island, uncommon T. V., rare W. V., 

 Nov. to May. Sing Sing, rare T. V., Mch. Cambridge, formerly common T. 

 V., Oct. to Dec. 



