214 



KEY TO THE ^VATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



the Atlantic coast and is the common " Shelldrake " of Florida ; some winters 

 the}^ are ahundant. This and the Hooded Merganser are the two species 

 which are common in Florida in winter. 



The female of this species may be easily distinguished from the American 

 Merganser b}' the difference in the measurement of the bill : the bird is also 

 somewhat smaller. The distance from the nostril to the tip of the bill in 

 this species measures more tlian 1.50 inches. 



It breeds from New Brunswick northward, the eggs being pale buff in 

 color and usually from eight to twehe in number. 



Genus LOPHODYTES Reich. 



L0PH0DYTE5 CUCULLATUS (Z/>///.). 

 Hooded Merganser. 



Adult male : Head with large black and 



white crest ; upper parts black ; under parts 

 white having' the sides brownish dehcately 

 barred witli black. 



Length. 19. 5O : Wing. 7.75: Tarsus. 1.30: 

 Bill. 1.50. 



Adult female: Head and neck brownish, show- 

 ing a slight crest, but not nearly as large as in. 

 the male : under parts white. 



Length, I8.5O; Wing. 7.75 : Tarsus. 1.30: 

 ]>ill, 1.50. 

 The young bird resembles the female, but has no crest. 

 Length, 18. 5O; Wing, 7.70; Tarsus, 1.25 ; Bill, 1.50. 



This species is found in 

 man^' parts of N o r t h 

 America, having a wide 

 distribution. It is com- 

 mon in Florida in winter, 

 (^'^'^■) and ranges along the Gulf 



coast to Mexico and Cuba, breeding throughout its 



range. The eggs are usuall}' deposited in a hollow 



tree near the water ; the}' are white, sometimes buffv 



white in color, and usually number from se\en to 



ten. It has a peculiar note, somewhat resembling 



that of the Scaup Duck, but sharper. 



f Female.) 



