66 



The American Merganser is a bird of small rather than large waters 

 and hence is less common on the larger lakes or the sea than the Red- 

 breasted. Otherwise remarks under that species will apply to the American 

 Merganser as their habits are similar. 



Economic Status. See under subfamily heading. 



130. Red-Breasted Merganser, saw-bill, fish-duck, shelduck. sheldrake, 

 fr. — le harle a poitrine RotTSSE. lebecscie. Mergus senator. L, 22. Plate III A. 



Distinctions. The ragged crest, and reddish breast-band separated from the head by 

 a conspicuous white collar, are sufficient to diagnose the male of this species. The female 

 and the juveniles of this and the last species are much alike. The bill is, however, 

 lighter in build and the nostrils are slightly nearer the base than in the American 

 Merganser. The head is usually not as rich a brown and the upper throat only a lighter 

 shade of the same colour and not white as in that species. 



Field Marks. The crest and breast-band of the adult male and the lack of the white 

 upper-throat in the females and young birds will separate the Red-breasted from the Ameri- 

 can MergaLser. The grey appearance of the back and the length of the outstretched head 

 and neck will differentiate the Sheldrakes from other Ducks having white wing-patches. 



Nesting. On the ground near water: sometimes in trees. 



Distribution. Occurs more or less commonly over the whole of Canada, nesting 

 wherever found except in the more southern parts. 



A bird of the open waters, hence more often seen on the open lakes 

 and the sea than the preceding species. 



Economic Status. See under subfamily heading. 



Genus — Lophodytes. Hooded Merganser. 



131. Hooded Merganser, fr. — le petit harle. Lophodytes cucvUatus. L, 

 17-50. The smallest of our Mergansers. The male is a most striking black 

 and white bird with rich chestnut flanks. Its distinctive ornament, the hood, is a flat, 

 disk-like crest springing from the base of the bill, arching over the crown, meeting the 

 neck at the base of the head, and coloured mostly pure white with a narrow black edge. 

 The female is a much duller-coloured bird with brownish fuscous body, lighter below, and 

 with a ragged, slightly reddish crest, in shape similar to that pictured in Plate III A. 



Distinctions. The hood of the male is unlike anything else worn by American birds. 

 The female can always be distinguished from other Mergansers by its small size. 



Field Marks. Hood of the male and reddish crest and size of the female. 



Nesting. In hollow trees. 



Distribution. Across the continent but scarcer in the east than in the interior. Breeds 

 locally wherever found in Canada. 



The Hooded Merganser is a bird of the interior, of quiet ponds and 

 woodland streams. It is the most edible of the Mergansers; this fact, 

 combined with the clearing of the forests and too little restriction on 

 shooting, is probably the cause of its growing scarcity. 



Economic Status. It is doubtful if any serious charge can be sub- 

 stantiated against the Hooded Merganser. 



Subfamily — Anatinae. River and Pond Ducks. 



General Description. Typical Ducks with flattened spatulate bills, furnished with 

 flat nail tip and straining laminae or plates along the inner margins (Figure 8, p. 19) instead 

 of tooth-like projections (Figure 7, p. 19). Feet with a small though well-formed hind 

 toe, not modified into a flat lobe or fin-like appendage. 



Distinctions. The bill will separate the River Ducks from the Mergansers; and the 

 hind toe as above from the Sea Ducks. 



