46o THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



particular. It is perhaps more of an inland species than the 

 preceding bird, attached to fresh water during summer like the 

 Goosander, but resorting to the coasts in winter, where it prefers 

 a deeply indented rocky shore to the more open sea. It is 

 gregarious during the latter season, although the flocks are never 

 very large, and not only frequents the sea, but visits inland 

 waters, especially flooded tracts of country. Like its allies it is 

 an accomplished diver, obtaining most of its food under the 

 surface. It also flies with great speed, but is clumsy enough on 

 land, shuffling along in an awkward manner with its breast touch- 

 ing the ground, or nearly so. The food of this Merganser is 

 composed almost exclusively of fish, but crustaceans and various 

 kinds of aquatic insects are also sought. It is said to be a shy, 

 wary bird, preferring to elude pursuit by diving rather than flying, 

 and so expert at this as to disappear very often at the flash of the 

 ^un, and rising again uninjured far out of range. The note of 

 this species does not differ from that of allied birds. During 

 winter the Hooded Merganser sometimes associates with other 

 Ducks, and in our islands has been observed to do so with its 

 ally, the Red-breasted Merganser. 



Nidification. — The breeding grounds of the Hooded Mer- 

 ganser are lake and river districts where plenty of trees occur ; 

 in this respect it exactly resembles its two allies, the Smew and 

 the Goosander. The nest is made in a hole of a tree or in a 

 hollow fallen log. The eggs are at first laid on the powdered 

 ■wood, but gradually a thick warm bed of down accumulates, 

 plucked from the body of the female. The eggs are from five to 

 eight in number, pure white in colour, smooth in texture, and 

 remarkably rotund; the latter shape, it may be remarked, is very 

 prevalent among birds nesting in holes where space is limited. 

 They measure on an average 2'i inches in length by 17 inch in 

 breadth. Down tufts moderate and very pale gray in colour. 

 The female performs the task of incubation, which is said to last 

 thirty-one days. She then conveys her brood to the water in her 

 bill one by one, where they are remarkably active, swimming and 

 diving with ease. It is not known that more than one brood is 

 reared in the year. 



Diagnostic Characters.— (Nuptial plumage), Mergus, with 



