HOODED MERGANSER (Lophodytes 

 cucullatus) . This smallest of the Sheldrakes 

 has a magnificent circular, flat, fan-shaped 

 crest which can be opened or shut to ex- 

 press the emotions of the owner. Although 

 quite universally known by its right name, 

 this species is sometimes spoken of as the 

 "Hairy-head," "Little, Wood, Pond or 

 Summer Sheldrake." They at times live 

 chiefly upon small fish, but at some sea- 

 sons in some localities feed extensively upon 

 mollusks and roots and their flesh then 

 is quite palatable. 



Hooded Mergansers are exclusively North 

 American, breeding throughout the United 

 States and Canada, but quite locally. Their 

 half dozen or more buff -colored eggs are laid 

 on a soft bed of grass and down, in cavities 

 of trees, generally along the banks of streams 

 or lakes. These birds are exceedingly active 

 on the surface of the water, and more so 

 below, pursuing fish with the greatest agility, 

 using both the wings and feet to propel them 

 through the water. 



MALLARD (A nas platyrhynchos) . Prob- 

 ably the most valuable of all wild water fowl, 

 for they are easily domesticated and are the 

 source from which some of our best barn- 

 yard ducks have descended. As usual, 

 other names are often associated with them, 

 some persons knowing them only as " Green- 

 heads," others as "Wild Ducks," while to the French they are the "Can- 

 ard francais" or "French Duck." They are found throughout most of the 

 Northern Hemisphere and are very highly esteemed as table birds every- 

 where. They feed almost wholly upon vegetable matter, such as tender 

 roots of aquatic plants, which they get from the bottoms of ponds in shallow 

 water, by "tipping up" and not by diving, and upon various grains and 

 grasses in meadows or cultivated fields. 



During early summer, while the female is sitting upon her greenish-buff 

 eggs in some remote part of the meadow, the drake moults to a plumage 

 similar to that of his mate, only to again assume his handsome dress in Sep- 

 tember. 



HOODED MERGANSER ( $ , ? ) 

 MALLARD ( $ , ? ) 



8 



