256 WATER FOWL. 



birds with possibly a nap or the lunch basket, the first 

 intimation of the presence of a Hairy Crown is given by 

 one or more flashing close over head with a startling 

 whirr, and then as rapidly disappearing in the distance. 

 It requires a steady hand and correct eye to kill them on 

 the wing, and the gunner must be ever mindful of the 

 good old adage in duck-shooting, " Hold well ahead! " 



The movements of this bird upon the water are quick 

 and active, and it swims rapidly and dives with great 

 celerity. It is a beautiful object, and few birds surpass the 

 male in attractiveness as he swims lightly along, elevat- 

 ing and depressing his beautiful crest. If suspicious, this 

 species will sink the body until the water is almost level 

 with the back, and sometimes disappears beneath the sur- 

 face, apparently without effort, as if some unseen hand was 

 pulling it down. When wounded it is one of the most 

 difficult birds to secure, and it dives with such quick- 

 ness, remains under water so long, and skulks and hides 

 with so much skill that it is very apt to make its escape, 

 and always tries the patience of its pursuer, whether dog 

 or man, to the utmost. On the sea-coast the Hooded 

 Merganser keeps mainly to the creeks and ponds in the 

 marshes, and rarely is seen in the more open waters of 

 the sounds, unless obliged to fly over the broad expanse 

 when passing from one marsh to another; but it rarely 

 alights far from any shore. It is fond of pursuing its 

 finny prey under the shelter of a bank, or in quiet 

 stretches of narrow, sinuous creeks, where it is least 

 likely to be observed. It rises from the water without 

 any preliminary motions, and is on the wing at once, 

 and in full- flight, the pinions moving with a rapidity that 

 almost creates a blur on either side of the body, the out- 

 line of the wing disappearing. It utters a hoarse croak, 

 like a small edition of the note of the Red-breasted Mer- 



