WILD FOWL 
and curved; axillaries white. Iris hazel; bill black edged with orange, 
lower mandible orange; legs and feet dusky. Total length about 18 inches; 
bill 1 '5 inch; wing 7*5 inches; tail 3*5 inches; tarsus 1 *25 inch. 
General distribution . — The hooded merganser is a native of North 
America, and breeds from British Columbia, Ungava and Newfoundland 
southwards to New Mexico, Louisiana and Central Florida. In winter it 
visits Lower California, Mexico and the West Indies. It has been recorded 
from Alaska and Bermuda. 
Distribution in the British Isles . — To the British Isles it is a very rare 
wanderer, and only four fully authenticated instances of its occurrence 
are on record, though others have been reported. Seven of the records 
are from Ireland, one from North Wales, and one from Norfolk. 
Nest and eggs . — ^Like its allies, it invariably nests in hollow trees, the 
down surrounding the eggs being dark-coloured and not white. The 
eggs, five to eight in number, are of a creamy -white or pale cream-colour, 
and measure about 2 * 2 by 1 • 7 inches. Incubation is said to last thirty-one 
days. 
This species feeds on fish, and seems to frequent fresh- water ponds 
in summer and the sea -coast in winter. 
W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT. 
383 
