MERGUS CUCULLATUS : HOODED MERGANSER. 333 



In our latest list of Maine birds, which has not reached 

 us until this work is nearly completed, Mr. N. C. Brown 

 notes this species as abundant in the vicinity of Portland, 

 and, like the last, chiefly a migrant. He is however 

 informed by Mr. Brewster that it winters in considerable 

 numbers as far north-east as Point Lepreaux, N. B. 

 (Pr. Portl. Soc. Nat. Hist., Dec. 4, 1882.) 



HOODED MERGANSER. 



MeRGUS CUCULLATUS L. 



Chars. Bill shorter than head, mostly or entirely black ; nostrils 

 sub-basal ; frontal feathers reaching far beyond those on sides of 

 bill ; a compact, erect, semicircular, laterally compressed crest 

 in the male, smaller and less rounded in the female. Male : 

 Black, including two crescents in front of wing, and bar across 

 speculum ; under parts, centre of crest, speculum, and stripes on 

 tertials, white ; sides chestnut, black-barred. Length, 18.00- 

 19.00 ; wing, 8.00. Female smaller ; head and neck brown ; 

 chin whitish ; back and sides dark brown, the feathers with 

 paler edges ; white on the wing less ; bill reddish at base below. 



The rarest of the three, excepting probably in places 

 where it breeds. This may be anywhere in New Eng- 

 land, but as far as known is chiefly in the swampy 

 wooded northern portions. The nest is built in the 

 hollow of a tree or stump. According to Mr. J. G. 

 Rich, as noted by Mr. Maynard, it breeds not uncom- 

 monly on Lake Umbagog, where Mr. Deane has taken 

 the eggs. 



