200 



The Goose-like Birds 



shorter than the head. The lower mandible is without lamellse along the sides, 

 but is provided with a series of distinct tooth-like serrations along the upper 

 edge, as are also the edges of the upper mandible. As much of their food is 

 procured by diving,* they are provided with strong feet such as characterize the 

 sea Ducks, just considered. The nine recognized species are placed by some 

 students in a single genus, but by others, and perhaps better authorities, they are 

 separated into three fairly well marked genera. That the group is an old one 

 is shown by the fact that two genera, each with a single species, are known from 

 the Miocene beds of Patagonia. 



The Smew, or Nun (Mergus albellus),oi the Old World is the sole representative 

 of its genus, being separated from the remaining genera by the culmen being 

 shorter than the tarsus. The male is a handsome crested bird some seventeen 

 inches long, with the plumage mainly satiny white, relieved by a black patch 

 before and below the eye and a greenish black triangular patch on the crest, 

 while the back is black, the lesser wing-coverts white, and the greater coverts 

 black with two narrow white bars. The female is similar to the male except that 

 the head is reddish brown, the collar ash-gray, and the crest inconspicuous. 

 In early summer the male assumes the plumage of the female, which is retained 

 until fall. The full-plumaged males are said to be very rare, perhaps because 

 they do not approach the shore except in severe weather, while the females and 

 immature young are relatively abundant in winter, especially off the east coast 

 of England and Scotland, where they are called Red-headed Smews by the 



fishermen. The summer 

 home of the Smew is in the 

 Arctic regions, the western 

 limits of its nesting range 

 being Finnish Lapland. 

 In winter it migrates to 

 southern Europe, northern 

 India, and Japan, and occa- 

 sionally or accidentally visits 

 eastern North America. Its 

 nest is placed in hollow 

 trees, or in some parts of 

 Lapland in boxes prepared 

 for its use by the people. 



Hooded Merganser. 

 The beautiful Hooded Mer- 

 ganser (Lophodytes cucul- 

 latus] is also the only representative of its genus, it and the true Mergansers 

 having the culmen longer than the tarsus, while from the Mergansers it differs 

 in having the serrations of both mandibles short, blunt, and not distinctly inclined 

 backwards at the tips. The male has a magnificent circular crest of hairlike 

 feathers, which is pure white, bordered by a sharply defined black rim. The 

 head, neck, and upper back are black, the breast and abdomen white, and the 



FIG. 67. Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus. 



