﻿184 ANATIDE. 



NATA TORES, A NAT I DM 



PLATE CCLXX. 



HOODED MERGANSER. 



MERG-US CUCULLATUS. 



The Hooded Merganser is a rare occasional visitant in 

 Great Britain. It is a native of North America, and not 

 uncommon in Hudson's Bay and other far countries, from 

 whence some few stragglers occasionally reach our shores : 

 one single individual has only been recorded to have reached 

 the continent of Europe, namely, France. 



All particulars respecting its habits are only known from 

 information received from American Ornithologists. 



The breeding localities are reported to be upon the 

 borders of lakes and rivers in the before-named northern 

 latitudes. The nest is formed of grass and other herbage, 

 lined with down ; the eggs are eight or ten in number, and 

 of a yellowish-white colour. 



During the winter months this beautiful bird migrates 

 southward, and extends over the lakes and rivers of the 

 United States. 



The entire length of this bird is eighteen inches ; the 

 beak one inch, eight lines ; the tarsus one inch, three lines ; 

 the wing seven inches and a half. 



The plumage of the adult male is as follows : — the head 



