HOODED MERGANSER 



347 



birds on the beach, flutters before the intruder, using every artifice to 

 decoy him from the neighborhood of her young, when she takes wing and 

 flies off. If, however, she has sufficient notice of the approach of a per- 

 son before he reaches gunshot she swims rapidly off with her whole 

 brood paddling behind her, until she turns a point or neck in the pond 

 or stream where she happens to be, when, silently creeping into shore, 

 she, with her brood, hides herself in the herbage on the land until the 

 danger is past." (A kindred anecdote cited in the "Life Story" of 

 the Pacific Eider makes an interesting contrast.) 



"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, elevating 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 surface, apparently with- 

 out 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 

 quickness, 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. Their 

 progress under water is extremely rapid, and the wings as well as the feet 

 are used as means of propulsion, perhaps more dependence being placed 

 upon the wings, and they may be said to fly beneath the surface" 

 (Elliot, 1898). 



The same writer says: 

 "On the wing it is one of 

 the swiftest ducks that fly, 

 and it hurls itself through the 

 air with almost the velocity 

 of a bullet. Generally it 

 proceeds in a direct line; but 

 if it is alarmed at any object 

 suddenly appearing before it, 

 the course is changed with the 

 swiftness of thought, and a 

 detour made before again 

 taking the first line of pro- 

 gression. Sometimes, without 

 apparent reason, the course 

 will be altered, and away it 

 shoots at right angles to the 

 first route; and again, it vacil- 

 lates as though uncertain 

 which way to take, or as if it 

 was looking for a good feed- 

 ing place. Usually five or six, 

 but more frequently a pair, 

 are seen flying together, and 



