Family ANATID^. Genus Mergus. 



Subfamily Fuligvlin^. 



HOODED MERGANSER. 



MERGUS CUCULLATUS— Z/;^«««5. 



Geographical Distribution.— -ffnV«/% .• Rare and irregular 

 straggler to the British Islands in winter. Several of the alleged 

 occurrences of this species are unworthy of credence, but the 

 reliable evidence on which its claim to be regarded as "British" is 

 founded may be briefly summarised as follows — England : Nor- 

 folk (2 examples), winter of 1829, about year 1838. Wales : 

 Menai Straits (i example), winter of 1830-31. Ireland: Co. 

 Kerry, Dingle Bay (i example), about year 1840 ; Co. Meath (i 

 example), no data ; Co. Cork, Cork Harbour (2 examples), 

 December, 1878 ; Co. Kerry (i example), January, 1881 ; Co. 

 Sligo (i doubtful example, not preserved), winter, 1 880-8 r. 

 Foreign : Northern Nearctic region ; more southerly in winter. 

 Breeds in Arctic and north temperate America from the Atlantic 

 to the Pacific, as far north as the Arctic Circle, and as far south 

 as about lat. 45°. During winter it visits most parts of the 

 United States, extending its winter area to Mexico and the West 

 Indies. It occasionally visits the Bermudas, but is not known 

 to occur in Greenland, Iceland, or any part of Continental 

 Europe. 



Allied Forms. — None of sufficient propinquity to call for 

 notice. • 



Time during which the Hooded Merganser may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist. 



Habits. — The Hooded Merganser does not diifer in its 

 habits and economy from its congeners in any known important 



