388 ANATID^. 



presently after, a different noise, as if produced by an 

 Eagle stooping on her prey, when, gliding downwards 

 with the rapidity of an arrow, he dimly perceives the 

 Hooded Mergansers sweeping past. Five or six, perhaps 

 ten, there are ; with quick beats of their pinions, they 

 fly low over the waters in wide circles. Now they have 

 spied the entrance of a creek ; they shoot into it, and in a 

 few seconds you hear the rushing noise which they make, 

 as they alight on the bosom of the still pool. Up the creek 

 they proceed, washing their bodies by short plunges, and 

 splashing the water about them. Now they dive for 

 minnows, which they find in abundance, and which no 

 doubt prove delicious food to the hungry travellers. At 

 length, having satisfied their appetite, they rise on wing, 

 fly low over the creek with almost incredible velocity, 

 return to the broad stream, rove along its margin until 

 they meet with a clean sand-beach, where they alight, and 

 where, secure from danger, they repose until the return 

 of day. This bird ranges throughout the United States 

 during winter, content with the food it meets with in the 

 bays and estuaries of the eastern coast, and on the inland 

 streams. The dam of the Pennsylvania miller is as agree- 

 able to it as that of the Carolina rice-planter ; even the 

 numerous streams and pools of the interior of the Floridas 

 are resorted to by this species, and there I have found 

 them full of life and gaiety, as well as on the Missouri, 

 and on our great lakes. When the weather proves too 

 cold for them they go southwards, many of them removing 

 towards Mexico." 



" The Hooded Merganser is a most expert diver, and so 

 vigilant that at times it escapes even from the best percus- 

 sion gun. As to shooting at it with a flint-lock, you may 

 save yourself the trouble, unless you prevent it from seeing 

 the flash of the pan. If you wound one, never follow it ; 



