297 



Of the above, the occurrences least open to doubt appear to be nos. 2, 4, 5, and 13, and there 

 can be no question as to its having been obtained on several occasions in Great Britain, but, so 

 far as I can ascertain, it has not been met with elsewhere in Europe. Temminck certainly speaks 

 of it (Man. d'Orn. iv. p. 557) as having been once recorded from France, but gives no particulars, 

 and I can find no other mention of it as a straggler to the French shores. 



The true home of this Merganser is North America, where it is found from Alaska to 

 Mexico. Messrs. Baird, Brewer, and Eidgway (Water B. of N. America, ii. p. 122) write 

 respecting its range on that continent as follows : — " Mr. Dall states that it was not obtained by 

 any of his party in Alaska, and believes that, if found at all in that region, it must be very rare. 

 Mr. Bannister, however, thinks that he observed a large flock of this species in October 1865, 

 only a short time before the harbor at St. Michael's had become frozen over. He shot one of 

 the birds ; but having no boat could not secure it. He did not notice this species at any other 

 time. It was seen on Vancouver Island by Mr. E. Browne ; and Dr. Cooper found it common, 

 in winter, along the whole Facific coast, and thinks that it very probably breeds within the 

 limits of Washington Territory, as its unfledged young were found by Dr. Suckley on Puget 

 Sound. This species appears to prefer clear fresh water in the forests and along mountain- 

 streams, where it can obtain plenty of young trout and insects. 



" It was found on the Mackenzie Eiver by Mr. Eoss, and on Hudson's Bay by Mr. Murray 

 and by Captain Blakiston. Sir John Eichardson speaks of meeting with it in all parts of the 

 Fur Countries, where he found it frequenting the lakes and rivers. Major Wedderburn states 

 that a single specimen of this bird was taken alive near Ireland Island, in Bermuda, in January 

 1849, by a sailor; and Mr. Hurdis adds that another was shot in 1850. 



"It was found along the Atlantic coast from the St. Lawrence to Florida. In winter it is 

 especially abundant in the Carolinas ; and during the breeding-season it is common in Northern 

 Maine and in the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. It is equally abundant in the 

 forests of Oregon and Washington Territory, and is found without doubt throughout the interior 

 in all suitable localities 



" This species is quite common in the fall in Massachusetts. It comes in flocks, and is at 

 times abundant. Mr. William Brewster informs me that he has shot several of these birds in 

 each season, and that he has frequently seen as many as thirty or forty in a single flock. It is a 

 difficult bird to shoot, as it is very shy, and flies rapidly. It is the swiftest in flight of the whole 

 Duck family. 



" On Long Island, according to Giraud, this bird is known as the ' Water Pheasant,' and 

 also as the ' Hairy-head,' but it is rather rare on that coast. It is a very active diver, subsists 

 by fishing, and its flesh is not held in high esteem." 



To this I may add that when living in New Brunswick I frequently saw this Merganser 

 during the summer season, and believe that it nested on the Musquash Eiver, but I never 

 succeeded in finding its nest. It was only a summer visitant, leaving for the south before winter 

 set in. In the winter it ranges far south, but it is said to winter in Oregon, as Mr. Anthony 

 (Auk, 1886, p. 163) states that a few were seen near Beaverton in December, and, according to 

 Mr. Merrill (Auk, 1888, p. 141), it is resident in that State. Mr. Scott (torn. cit. p. 268) says 

 that it is a rare winter resident in Florida, and Mr. Lloyd (Auk, 1887, p. 184) that it is common 



