BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 33 



The Red-breasted Merganser, a summer resident chiefly north of the 

 United States, appears to be the rarest of the three species in Pennsyl- 

 vania, where it is found frequenting-, usually, rivers and large creeks 

 from late in October until early in April. Formerly, according to Dr. 

 Turnbull, Judge Libhart, and some few other writers, this duck occa- 

 sionally reared its young in this state. None of these birds, however, 

 have been observed for many years past in Pennsylvania as summer resi- 

 dents, and I am inclined to believe that this Merganser is not now found 

 with us as a breeder. 



The nest and eggs are described by Audubon, as follows : " In Lab- 

 rador, as well as in several parts of the United States, where I have 

 found the nests, they were placed within a very short distance of the 

 margins of fresh-water ponds, among rank grasses and sedges or beneath 

 low bushes. * * * The nest is made of dry weeds and mosses of 

 various kinds, and is warmly lined with down from the breast of the 

 female bird, for the male leaves her as soon as she has completed the 

 laying of the eggs, the number of which I have never found to exceed 

 ten, they being more frequently six or eight. It is a very remarkable 

 fact that the eggs in this family of birds are usually even in number, 

 whereas in most land birds they are odd. * * * The eggs resemble 

 in form those of the domestic fowl, and are of a uniform plain, dull yel- 

 lowish cream-color." 



The stomachs of three Red-breasted Mergansers, which I have exam- 

 ined, contained only the remains of fish. 



GENUS LOPHODYTES REICHENBACH. 

 Lophodytes cucullatus (Lnrer.). 



Hooded Merganser. 



DESCRIPTION (Plate ?). 



Nostrils rather long and narrow ; frontal feathers extend beyond those on sides of 

 bill ; iris in both sexes yellow ; bill shorter than head ; head with a conspicuous, 

 compressed semicircular crest, smaller in the female than the male. 



Adult Male. Head, chin, neck all round, and back, black; white on sides of 

 breast in front of wing, crossed by two black crescents, the triangular-shaped centre 

 oi crest, under parts, and speculum (the latter crossed with two black bars) white ; 

 sides reddish-brown, barred with dusky; bill brownish-black, trasi (dried skin) 

 dark brownish-yellow. 



Female Adult. Bill (dried skin) upper mandible brownish-black, except edges 

 about base and lower mandible yellow ; tarsi and feet dark-brown ; top of head dark 

 glossy-brown ; chin and upper part of throat whitish, breast and under parts mostly 

 white ; neck reddish-brown, lightest on sides and darkest on back and lower parts ; 

 back and sides dark-brown ; less white on wings than in male. Length about 17 

 inches ; extent about 25 inches. 



Habitat. North America generally, south to Mexico and Cuba, breeding nearly 

 throughout its range. 



3 BlKDS. 



