HOODED MERGANSER. 
243 
[It is truly astonishing with what pertinacity Montagu 
^dheres to the opinion that the dun diver is a species 
**>stinct from the goosander. Had this excellent 
Ornithologist had the same opportunities for examining 
I mese birds that we have, he would never have published 
®n opinion, which, in this quarter of the globe, would 
Subject one, even from the vulgar, to the imputation of 
'?norance.] * 
286. ilMSGVS CUCULLATOS, UNN^BCS AKB WILSON. 
HOODED MEKGANSER. 
WILSON, PLATE LXIX. FIG. I, 
Tins species, on the sea coast, is usually called the 
hairy head. They are more common, however, along 
®nr lakes and fresh water rivers than near the sea ; 
tracing up creeks, and visiting mill ponds, diving per- 
Jotually for their food. In the creeks and rivers of 
the Southern States, they are very frequently seen during 
the winter. Like the red-breasted, they are migratory, 
the manners, food, and places of resort of both being 
'’®ry much alike. 
The hooded merganser is eighteen inches in length, 
®r>d two feet in extent ; hill, blackish red, narrow, 
thickly toothed, and furnished with a projecting nail at 
extremity ; the head is ornamented with a large 
^'fcular crest, which the bird has the faculty of raising 
depressing at pleasure ; the fore part of this, as far 
the eye, is black, thence to the hindhead, w hite, and 
elegantly tipt with black ; it is composed of tw'O separate 
tows of feathers, radiating from each side of the head, 
®Dd which may be easily divided by the hand ; irides, 
Mden ; eye, very small ; neck, black, wdiich spreads 
and over the back ; jiart of the lesser w'ing-coverts, 
'^fy pale a-sh, under which the gi-eater coverts and 
®®<5ondaries form four alternate bars of black and white ; 
* The concluding paragraph, marked off with brackets, is an 
edition by Mr Ord. 
