HOODED MERGANSER. 257 



ganser. Altogether this handsome species is a sprightly, 

 attractive creature, and a great ornament to the locali- 

 ties it frequents. 



LOPHODYTES CUCULLA TUS. 



Geographical Distribution. Throughout North America, from 

 Alaska, and possibly Greenland, to Mexico and Cuba. Acci- 

 dental in the British Islands, and the Continent of Europe. 

 Breeding throughout its range. 



Aditlt Male. Head, neck, and back, black; crest, pure white, 

 bordered narrowly with black. Scapulars, black. Wing cov- 

 erts, dark gray, white patch on wing divided by a black bar. 

 Tertials, black, with a white central stripe. Primaries, dark 

 brown. Rump, dark brown. In front of wing on the side of 

 chest are two black and two white crescentic bars, pointed at 

 one end; the first on chest, the latter on back. Flanks, grayish 

 brown toward the chest, grading into reddish brown toward the 

 tail, crossed by fine wavy black lines. Under parts, pure white. 

 Vent and under tail coverts, mottled with dusky. Bill, black. 

 Legs and feet, yellowish brown. Iris, bright yellow. Total 

 length, about 18 inches; wing, y|; tail, 4^; tarsus, i-^; cul- 

 men, i-J. 



Adult Female. Head, neck, and upper parts, grayish brown, 

 darkest on the back. Crest, reddish brown. Chin and throat, 

 white. Patch on wing, white, crossed with a black bar. Flanks, 

 grayish brown. Under parts, white, crissum with rather in- 

 distinct grayish brown bars. Tail, dark grayish brown, like the 

 back. Bill: maxilla, black, edged with orange; mandible, orange; 

 nail, brownish black. Feet, light brown. Iris, hazel. Length, 

 about 16^; wing, 7^; tarsus, i-fo; culmen, i^. 



Immature Male. Head and neck, grayish brown, the latter 

 mottled and blotched with black. Crest, brownish white, edged 

 with blackish brown. Upper parts, blackish brown, all the 

 feathers tipped with pale brown. Wings, colored like the back, 

 a few of the tertials having a white stripe in the center, and the 

 outer webs changing to black. Rump and upper tail coverts, 

 dark umber brown. Primaries, blackish brown, the webs edged 

 with pale brown. Breast, light brownish gray. Flanks, light 

 brown. Lower breast, abdomen, and vent, white. Under tail 



