BIRDS OF 



HAB. Northern portions of Northern hemisphere ; south, in winter, 

 throughout the United States. 



Nest among the weeds, built of grass, and warmly lined with down. Eggs, 

 nine to ten, creamy buff. 



Rather more numerous than the preceding, being often seen 

 in spring and fall in flocks of six or eight, fishing about the 

 mouths of the inlets in Hamilton Bay. 



This species is common to both continents, and breeds on 

 the rocky islets on many of the inland lochs in the north of 

 Scotland. All the young birds appear for the first season in the 

 plumage of the female, but the male can readily be distinguished 

 by a peculiar bony enlargement in the windpipe, which does not 

 occur in the opposite sex. 



It is said that in this and the preceding species, as soon as 

 the female has completed her set of eggs, the male has the un- 

 gallant habit of ignoring all family responsibilities, and leaves 

 the entire care of the youngsters to their mother, who leads them 

 carefully to the water, and gives them their first lesson at a very 

 early age. 



GENUS LOPHODYTES REICHENBACH. 



33. LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS (LINN.). 131. 

 Hooded Merganser. 



Nostrils sub-basal ; frontal feathers reaching beyond those on sides of 

 bill ; a compact erect, semicircular, laterally compressed crest in the male, 

 smaller and less rounded in the female ; male, black, including two crescents 

 in front of wing, and bar across speculum ; under parts, centre of crest, 

 speculum and stripes on tertials white ; sides chestnut, black-barred; length, 

 18-19 ; wing, 8 ; female smaller ; head and neck brown ; chin whitish ; back 

 and sides dark-brown, the feathers with paler edges ; white on the wing less, 

 bill reddish at base below. 



HAB. North America generally, south to Mexico and Cuba, breeding 

 nearly throughout its range. 



Nest in a hole in a tree or stump. Eggs, six to eight, buff or dark cream 

 color. 



This beautiful little Saw-bill is a regular visitor at Hamilton 



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