364 SWIMMERS. 



passed the rest of the summer. At Hudson Bay, where these 

 birds arrive about the end of May, they are said to nest close 

 to the borders of lakes. The young are at first yellowish, and 

 begin to fly in July. The Hairy Head, as this species is some- 

 times called, is rarely seen but in fresh waters and lakes, ap- 

 proaching the sea only in winter, when its favorite haunts are 

 blocked up with ice. It delights in the woody interior, and 

 traces its way up still creeks, and sometimes visits the mill- 

 ponds, perpetually diving for small fish and insects in the 

 manner of the Red-breasted Merganser. In the course of the 

 winter it migrates as far south as Mexico, is very common 

 throughout the whole winter in the Mississipi, and is rendered 

 very conspicuous by the high circular and party-colored crest 

 which so gracefully crowns the top of the head. 



The Hooded Merganser ranges throughout North America, 

 breeding from about latitude 45° to the vicinity of the Arctic Circle, 

 and wintering from Massachusetts (sparingly) to the Southern 

 States. It is rather common as a spring and fall migrant in New 

 England and adjacent provinces, but breeds in numbers in the 

 northern portions of Ontario and in Manitoba. 



Note. — The Rufous-crested Duck (Netta rufina), from Eu- 

 rope, has been taken near New York. One example of Steller's 

 Duck {Enico7ieita stelleri), a North Pacific species, has also wan- 

 dered from its usual habitat and been captured in Greenland. 



The Masked Duck {Nomonyx dominicus), a tropical bird, 

 occurs occasionally on the lakes of the interior, but cannot be 

 regarded as more than a straggler. 



AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN. 

 Plecanus erythrorhynchos. 



Char. General color white, the breast and nape washed with pale 

 yellow ; wings mostly black ; bill long, the lower mandible connected 

 with a larger gular sac ; bill and sac reddish in life, but fading to yellow- 

 ish after death ; legs and feet orange. Length about 5 feet. 



Nest. Usually on the beach of an island in a large lake, — a loosely 

 built structure of twigs on the top of a mound of gravel and sand. 



Eggs. 1-4 (usually 2) j white, with a rough chalk-like surface ; 3.35 X 



2.20. 



