76 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA. 
east end of Lake Ontario, on islands, on the 27th June, 1896, 
and on the 30th June the same year. On the first occasion I had 
landed on arocky isJand, and while passing some cedars a mer- 
ganser flew from underneath. I concluded there was a nest and 
by searching soon found it, containing six eggs. This nest was 
well hidden away among thick branches of cedar, and was found 
in a depression of the rock, it was made of dried grass and well 
lined with down of the bird. Incubation had commenced seven 
or eight days. The other nest was in asomewhat similar position, 
well concealed in adry place among the rocks, perhaps ten feet 
above the water; this one contained ten eggs, and was precisely 
as the first. This speciesis verycommon on the Magdalen islands 
in summer. I saw numbers of them in June, 1897, and obtained 
fresh eggs on the 22nd of that month. They select there an 
island or dry spot around the brackish pools at the northeast 
point of the island, and the eggs were deposited in precisely the 
same way as those found on Lake Ontario. (Rev. C. /. Young.) 
This bird builds a nest of dry grass, warmly lined with down 
and feathers. The eggs, nine or more in number, are of a creamy 
buff colour. From a nest situated at the Lake of the Woods, ten 
young were successfully hatched on the 20th June, 1897, the young 
birds were as large as aquail. (G. Rk. White.) 
Several nests of this,not particularly numerous merganser, were 
obtained in the vicinity of Fort Anderson, and also in the wooded 
parts on both sides of the river, north and south of the post. 
One was found on the borders of the ** Barrens,” to the east, under 
a fallen tree, close toa small lake. It was a scooped-out hole, 
lined with feathers and down and contained six eggs. Ten was 
the maximum number taken ina nest. (Macfarlane.) 
XLIV. LOPHODYTES ReIcHENBACH. 1852. 
131. Hooded Merganser. 
Lophodytes cucullatus (LINN.) REIcH. 1852. 
This species is reported as a spring and autumn migrant along 
the Atlantic coast from New Brunswick to Labrador and in Que- 
bec and Ontario. We have no records of its breeding in any of 
these provinces, except that an Ottawa writer says it is “* known 
to breed”; and Mr. Elliott, of Plover Mills, Middlesex co., Ont., 
