106 



Hypothetical List 



129. Mergus americanus (Cass.). American Merganser. 



Years ago the American Merganser was reoorded as 

 breeding in the state. Nuttal records a female with a 

 brood of young an the Susquehanna River in 1832. Later the 

 Messrs. Baird recorded it as breeding in Perry County. Dr. 

 Walter Van Fleet of Renovo states that it bred in Clinton 

 County. In Dr. Warren's "Birds of Pennsylvania" he quotes 

 Professor August Koch as follows: "The Hooded and American 

 Mergansres are regular breeders in Luzerne County, and I have 

 takenthe young of both before they were able to fly." It 

 would seem that the time is past when this bird nested with 

 us, for constant search during the past twenty years has 

 failed to bring to light any record of its nest or young. 



131. Lophodytes cucullatus ( Linn . ) . Hooded Merganser. 



Dr. Warren in his "Birds of Pennsylvania" records 

 young birds of this species taken by Professor H. Justin 

 Rcddy in Perry County in 1888 and 1^89 and mentions that they 

 formerly nested on Sherman's Creek. Professor August Koch 

 also took young bird's in 1888 near Williamsport, Lycoming 

 County, so it would seem that this bird bred rarely at least 

 in former years. Specimens of the Hooded Merganser have been 

 taken in summer in Chester and Greene Counties, but no nests 



