64 BIEDS OF ONTARIO. 



tion that is usually bestowed upon visitors of this description. John 

 Dynes was the first to give them a salute, and he captured two of 

 their number, one of which came into my possession. The other 

 three remained for a day or two, but were much disturbed, and 

 finally got away. On the 13th of March, 1884, a similar visit was 

 made by a like number, about the time the ice was breaking up. ISlr^ 

 Smith, who was in charge of the Ocean House at the time, saw them 

 flying heavily up the lake. They seemed much exhausted, and on 

 alighting on the ice near the edge of the water, at once squatted flat, 

 with their heads resting between their shoulders. When two or 

 three rifle bullets were landed uncomfortably near them, they got up 

 reluctantly, and went off eastward down the lake, hugging the shore 

 for shelter from the wind, which was blowing fresh at the time. 



Dr. Macallum writes that " on the 28th of September, 1889, a 

 very fine female White Pelican was shot at the mouth of the Grand 

 River, near Dunnville, ■?vhich came into my hands. There had not 

 been one shot here for twenty-two years. It was in a very emaciated 

 condition, but in good plumage, and now adorns one of my cases." 



So the stragglers are picked up, but the bulk of the species is 

 found to the north and west of Ontario. Macoun found them breed- 

 ing in Old Wives, Gull and Long Lakes in the North- West. It is also 

 said that several thousands of these birds are permanent residents on 

 Great Salt Lake, Utah, where they breed on the islands twenty miles, 

 out in the lake. 



Order ANSERES. Lamellirosteal Swimmers. 



Family ANATID^. Ducks, Geese and Swans. 



Subfamily MEEGIN^. Mergansers. 



Genus MERGANSER Brisson. 



MERGANSER AMERICANUS (Cass.). 



34. American Merganser. (129) 



Nostrils, nearly median ; frontal feathers reaching beyond those on sides of 

 bill ; male with the head scarcely crested, glossy green ; back and wings, black 

 and white, latter crossed by one black bar; imder parts, salmon-colored; length, 

 about 24; wing, 11, female smaller, occipital crest better developed, but still 

 flimsy ; head and neck, reddish-brown ; black parts of the male; ashj' gray ; less, 

 white on the wing ; under parts less tinted with salmon. 



