ii6 British Diving Ducks 
An American writer in the Waterfowl Family, p. 199, says : 
" We have them on our New England coast in spare numbers by late September, though in the south 
more commonly. Throughout the interior they are well known on the marshes of most of our lakes and 
rivers. The Hooded Merganser frequents the brackish bays of our southern States ; here creeks and 
ponds, on the marshy islands are the spots he loves. We see him in a small, select flock, or with his 
little brown wife, keeping mostly by themselves ; in places where protection is afforded, quickly showing 
their appreciation of it, and becoming gentle." ^ 
In March the majority of the Hooded Mergansers that have wintered in the south 
move northward, though a few stay and breed in their winter range as far south as 
Florida. 
The courtship, according to my friend Mr. Francklyn, consists of a sudden rise of the 
body with depressed crest. On coming to the water again the crest is fully expanded. The 
males also stretch their necks forward with fully expanded crest. The nest is usually 
placed in a hollow tree, often 20 feet above the ground, and near to some lake, but 
occasionally at some distance from the water. Full clutches of eggs are laid from the 
middle of May to the end of that month, and sometimes as late as the middle of June 
(see Macoun, Cat. Canadian Birds, 2nd ed. pp. 76-7 ; P.Z.S., 1867, p. 167). Spread- 
borough states that the nesting hole is often at a considerable distance, and not always 
close to the water, while Macoun (p. 77) records a nest 30 feet from the ground. 
The female Hooded Merganser flies through the woods and alights on the edge of the 
hole where her nest is situated with speed and grace. An interesting instance is related by 
Mr. Boardman of a case where a female Wood Duck and a female Hooded Merganser 
contested for the possession of a nesting site in a hollow tree. Later the nest was found to 
contain eighteen fresh eggs, about a third belonging to the Merganser. 
The nest is said to be made of grass, leaves, and moss. The nesting habits and 
autumnal migrations seem to be similar to that of the other Mergansers. I have only shot 
three of those beautiful birds, and it struck me that they were far easier to kill and to outwit 
than other Mergansers. To a great extent their narrow feeding grounds would account 
for this, but I am told by sportsmen who know them well on the larger lakes that they are 
by no means shy, and come freely over concealed gunners. 
The migration flocks in British Columbia, and throughout the Canadian barrens, 
gather together early in September, and they are almost the first ducks to move before the 
coming frost. 
