HOODED MERGANSER 417 
bass or pickerel, by eating thousands of small 
fry. 
The male bird has his crest evenly and clean- 
ly cut; from forehead to nape a large white 
area of hair-like feathers, bordered and sharply 
defined with jet black, this color also on head, 
neck and upper parts; lower part of neck and 
under parts white; the sides and flanks brown- 
ish red, finely and evenly pencilled with black 
lines. White speculum in wing, with two black 
bars crossing it. Bill black; eyes yellow, feet 
light brown with black nails. 
The head and neck of the female is a grayish 
brown, darker on the crown. Upper parts and 
sides a dull dark brown. Feet, eyes and bill 
as in the male. 
The length of this species is about eighteen 
inches; the extent from twenty-four to twenty- 
six inches. 
This species is much more of a vegetarian 
than any other of the family, and in conse- 
quence its flesh ranks higher as food. As a 
table bird it is nearly as good as any of the 
shoal water ducks. 
