THE TWO MERGANSERS 199 



breeds from our northern states as far as the Aleutian Islands 

 and western Alaska, where the Aleuts prize it for food above 

 all other ducks. In winter it migrates along our two ocean 

 coasts to southern California and Florida. It feeds entirely 

 on fish, and the flavor of its flesh is rank and disagreeable. 



Nearly all sportsmen admire this duck, and it is much 

 to be regretted that it is so shy and nervous, and difficult to 

 keep alive in captivity. A fine specimen which we cherished 

 for a time in the Flying Cage of the New York Zoological 

 Park, along with many other water-birds of good size, at 

 first seemed inclined to accept the situation, and become ac- 

 climatized; but it lived only two months. With several Mer- 

 gansers together, the result might be more satisfactory. 



The Hooded Merganser ^ is distinctly marked by a 

 striking, black-and-white semicircular crest of great height, 

 standing stiffly erect, and jaunty beyond compare among 

 water-fowl. By that crest and the slender Merganser bill 

 any one may know this bird out of ten thousand species, 

 whether seen in New York or New Zealand. It ranges all 

 over North America, wherever there is water enough to float 

 it, down to Mexico and Cuba, and as a result it has been 

 burdened with an appalling collection of names. It nests 

 in hollow trees, near good fishing-grounds, and whenever it 

 makes its summer camp near a trout stream, the fry fare 



badly. 



The Geese. — Those who have not looked into the sub- 

 ject usually are surprised to find what a fine collection of 

 geese is found in North America. The continent is so large 



1 Lo-phod'y-tes eu-cul-la'tus. Average length, 17 inches. 



