LOPHODTTES. 231 



Lophodytes cucullatus, Scl. P. Z. S. 1859, p. 369*; Baird, Brewer, & Ridgw. Water-Birds 

 N. Amer. ii. p. 121 '; Herrera, La Nat. (2) i. pp. 187, 328° ; A. O. U. Check-1. N.-Araer. 

 Birds, 2nd ed. p. 48 ' ; Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 468 \ 



Supra nigerrimuB, interscapulio, uropygio lateraU et BupracaudaUbus nigricanti-brunneis ; tectarieibus alarum 

 cano-griseis, primariis brunneis, tectricibus majoribus nigris albo terminatis ; secundariis intimis albo 

 extu8 marginatis, longioribus medialiter albo striatis ; recfcricibus brunneis, anguste albido terminatis ; 

 pileo valde cristato nigro, cristae posticse plumis albis, nigro terminatis ; capitis lateribus posticis quoque 

 albis, plagam albam magnam formantibus ; collo undique et gutture nigris ; torque coUari interrupto 

 albo, plumis nigris albo marginatis ; prajpectore laterali fascia nigra omata, altera inferiore alba, 

 plumis nigro terminatis ; corpore reliqno subtus albo, lateribus et hypochondriis vinaceo-rufescentibus, 

 nigro anguste transfasoiatis ; subcaudalibus sordide albis, brunneo vermiculatis ; subalaribus albis, 

 externis brunneis j axillaribus pure albis ; alis subtus griseis : rostro nigro ; pedibus flavescenti-brunneis ; 

 iride laete flava. Long, tota circa 18-5, alae 7'5, caudse 4-0, culm. 1-6, tarsi 1"25. (Descr. maris adulti 

 ex Tarpon Springs, Florida. Mus. noatr.) 



5 ad. Supra nigricans, pileo, coUo et interscapulio saturate cinerascenti-brunneis ; capitis lateribus palUde 

 clnereis ; crista rufescenti-brunnea, apicem versus pallidiore ; mento gulaque rufescenti-brunneis ; 

 prsepectore, corporis lateribus et bypochondriis saturate cinerascenti-brunneis, plumis paUide marginatis ; 

 corpore reliquo subtus pure albo, subcaudalibus longioribus brunneis albo marmoratis ; alis caudaque sicut 

 in mari coloratis ; maxilla nigra, marginibus ejus et mandibula aurantiacis ; pedibus f uscis ; iride corylina. 

 Long, tota circa 18"0, alae 7"6, caudse 4"0, cuhn. 1'55, tarsi 1'25. (Descr. maris adulti ex Jalapa. 

 Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. NoETH Ameeica generally, breeding nearly throughout its range ^. — Mexico, Eio 

 Bravo del Norte near Matamoros [Berlandier ^), Valley of Mexico [Herrera^), 

 Jalapa {De Oca ^), Orizaba (Sumichrast ^). — Eueope, casual ''. 



L. cucullatus is confined to North America, wintering in the Southern United States 

 and migrating in summer to the wooded regions of the north, where it breeds. It has 

 been observed several times in Mexico. 



In habits the species resembles its larger relatives. It subsists on fish, and its 

 powers of diving are extraordinary. The Hooded Merganser is said to be a very wary 

 bird and to have a remarkably swift flight. The nest is always placed in a hollow 

 tree, and the cavity is lined with tine dry grass, leaves, and down. 



Order COLUMB^*. 



The Pigeons are cosmopolitan, and form a large Order of birds, comprising nearly 

 six hundred species. In all recent schemes of classification the Order Columbse has 

 been placed in the vicinity of the Gallinse or Game-Birds, to which some of the 

 Ground-Pigeons, such as Otidiphaps and Goura of New Guinea, show much affinity. 



The Columbse are schizognathous birds, with schizorhinal nostrils and basipterygoid 

 processes in the skull. The bill is characteristic, the tip being hard and swollen, and 

 the basal portion covered with a soft skin, in which the nostrils, overhung by an 



* As with the Herons and some of the other Orders, I have been assisted in my description of the Pigeons 

 by my friend Dr. Bowdler Sharpe.— i^. Z>. G. 



