78 



VEBT8 AND EGGS Of 



128. Nest and Egg of Man-o'-War Bird (From T/te Nidologist). 



H6SS, from nesting material added eacti time it was used. Smooth as it appears Mr. 

 Bryant obtained an egg from it on February 13, 1888. The principal feeding ground 

 was ou*^ at sea, but an opportunity was never lost to rob the Cormorants, both of 

 fish and materials brought for their nests. The Cormorants' rookery was in the 

 same locality. An unmistakable odor of guano pervaded the rookeries and was 

 noticeable a hundred yards away to leeward. 



129. AHEBICAN IVEEBGANSEB. Merganser atnericanus (Cass.) Geog. 

 Dist. — North America generally. 



The Sheldrake, Goosander or Merganser, as it is variously called, is a common 

 bird throughout North America, breeding from the Northern States northward. It 

 has lately been found breeding in New Mexico; Mr. N. S. Goss having seen a female 

 with four little ones July 2, on the Pecos River.* Is very abundant on fresh as well 

 as salt waters in spring and fall. The three species of Mergansers or Sheldrakes 

 with the "saw-bill" are commonly called "Fish Ducks." Their flesh is rank and 

 unpalatable. The male may be recognized by his larce size, white breast and green 

 gloss on the head and neck, the latter scarcely crested; the female, which is much 

 smaller than the male, has a deep red head and neck, with the crest better de- 

 veloped; under parts salmon-tinted. The nest is made in hollow trees, after the 

 manner of the Wood Duck, and is composed of moss, leaves and grasses, warmly 

 lined with down from the bird. In Northern Maine eggs are deposited in the latter 

 part of May or the first of June. The eggs are 6 or 8 and sometimes 10 in number; of 

 yellowish or buff color, and measure from 2.50 to 2.80 by 1.70 to 1.80. Mr. A. B. Call 

 found a nest of this species on West River, a few miles below Newfane, Vt. It was 

 in a hollow tree about 35 feet above the river and 6 or 8 feet below the top of the en- 

 trance. This was on May 14, and the nest contained sixteen well incubated eggs.t 



• Auk, Vol. IV, p. 344. 



t The Nidologist, March, 1894. 



