634 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The Hooded Merganser does not differ much in its habits from its allies. 

 During the breeding-season it frequents lakes and rivers, but always in 

 some wooded district where it can obtain a suitable nesting-site. It is 

 rather shy and is a very difficult bird to shoot, diving with great rapidity 

 at the flash of the gun. It swims well, sitting lightly on the water, and 

 it is said that no Duck exceeds it in fleetness of wing. Its food is princi- 

 pally composed of small fish and insects. 



Like its congeners, the Goosander and the Smew, the Hooded Merganser 

 always breeds in holes. It chooses some hole in a standing tree or even a 

 hollow in a fallen log, which it is said to line with dry grass and leaves ; 

 a plentiful supply of down is added as the full clutch of eggs is laid and 

 the female begins to sit. Mr. Boardman describes a contest he witnessed 

 between a female Hooded Merganser and a female Wood-Duck for the 

 possession of a hollow tree. The contest lasted several days, neither bird 

 allowing its rival to remain long in peaceful possession of the hole. The nest 

 contained eighteen eggs, about a third of which belonged to the Hooded 

 Merganser. 



The eggs of the Hooded Merganser are from five to eight in number, 

 smooth in texture, and remarkable for their roundness. They are pure 

 white, varying in length from 2'1 to 2'0 inch, and in breadth from 1'75 to 

 1'65 inch. The down with which the nest is lined, like that of the Smew 

 and other Ducks breeding in holes, is very pale grey. The eggs of the 

 Wood-Duck (Anas sponsa) very closely resemble those of the Hooded 

 Merganser, but are, on an average, somewhat smaller. When the young 

 are hatched, the female is said to convey them to the water in her bill, 

 and she is much devoted to her brood. The little chicks readily take to 

 the water, and dive with great agility when pursued. 



In winter the Hooded Merganser becomes gregarious, uniting into flocks 

 of between thirty and forty birds, which frequent the coast and may often 

 be seen swimming on the sea at a considerable distance from the shore ; 

 it is also found at this season on the large freshwater marshes, especially 

 when they are flooded. It obtains most of its food by diving; and 

 probably the fishy nature of its diet is the reason that its flesh is held in 

 such low esteem. 



The Hooded Merganser is about the same size as the Smew, but has a 

 much longer bill. The adult male in nuptial dress resembles that bird in 

 having the back black, extending in two crescentic marks on each side of 

 the breast. Except in the chin and throat being black, and the flanks being 

 vermiculated with black and chestnut instead of black and white, there is no 

 difference in the colour of the underparts between the two species. The 

 crest is very much more developed and is white margined with black, which 

 is the colour of the rest of the head and neck. The patches on the wing- 

 coverts are grey instead of white ; the white scapulars are replaced by 



