BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 69 



a male, in fine plumage) ; and he states that it is by far the com- 

 monest Merganser seen about the pond. Dr. Townsend rates 

 it as a not uncommon transient visitor in Essex County. Mr. 

 Jonathan Jones states that it was formerly plentiful at 

 Waquoit, but has become rarer in recent years, and that is 

 the general belief. Two gunners at Nantucket rate it as 

 common, but all the others heard from call it rare. Brewster 

 says that during the past twenty years "it has been steadily 

 decreasing in numbers throughout New England, and is fast 

 becoming a positively rare visitor to eastern Massachusetts." 

 The species should be protected at all times in the New Eng- 

 land States. 



One of my pleasantest recollections is that of the sight of 

 half a dozen birds of this species disporting themselves in a 

 diminutive pond in the spring of 1900, while I lay hidden in 

 the grass, watching the graceful evolutions of their beautiful 

 forms. The two fuU-plumaged males raised and lowered their 

 elegant fan-like crests to show off their plumage to the best 

 advantage, and all raced swiftly about the little pool, uncon- 

 scious of my presence. This is one of the swiftest Ducks that 

 flies, and its progress beneath the water is remarkably rapid. 

 Its speed even excels that of the swift-running fish, and as it 

 feeds largely on fish, it is ranked among the enemies of the 

 finny tribes. 



Hon. John E. Thayer assures me that on Currituck Sound, 

 N. C, this species feeds on the corn that the sportsmen use 

 to attract other and more palatable Ducks. It appears to be 

 more at home in the small ponds and streams of the interior 

 than on the sea-coast ; and even on the coast it keeps mainly 

 to the fresh water. 



Like the American Merganser this species seeks a hollow 

 tree in which to build its nest. Hence it breeds only in the 

 wooded regions of the continent. 



River Ducks (Subfamily Anatinae). 



This group contains most of the distinctly fresh-water 

 Ducks; but they are by no means confined to fresh waters, and 

 some often associate with the so-called Sea Ducks. The bill 



