244 
MERGUS CUCULLATUS. 
terfials, lonw, l)lack, and streaked down the middle 
with white ; the black ou the back curves handsomely 
round in two points on the breast, which, with the 
whole lower parts, are imre \vhite; sides, under the 
wings and flanks, reddish brown, beautifully crossed 
with parallel lines of black ; tail, pointed, consisting o* 
twenty feathers of a sooty brown ; legs and feet, flesh 
coloured ; claws, large and stout. The windpipe has » 
small labyrinth. 
The female is rather less, the crest smaller, and ot * 
light rust or dull ferruginous colour, entirely destitute 
of the n kite ; the upper half of the neck, a dull drahi 
with semicircles of lighter, the n hite on the wings ij 
the same as in the male, but the tertials are shorter ai'd 
hav(? less white ; the back is blackish brown ; the res* 
of the plumage corre.sj)onds very nearly with the male* 
This species is peculiar to America ; is .said to arri'« 
at Hudson’s Bay about the end of May ; builds close ^ 
the lakes; the nest is composed of grass, lined wit® 
feathers from the breast; is said to lay six white egg*’ 
The young are yellow, and fit to fly in July.* 
287. 3IERGUS SEERATOS, tlNXJECS AND WILSON. 
RED-BREASTED AIERGANSER. 
WILSON, PLATE LXIX. FIG. II. — EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSECW 
This is much more common in our fresh watet* 
than the preceding, and is frequently brought to th 
Philadelphia market from the shores of the Delavipt^ 
It is an inhabitant of both continents. In the 
States, it is generally migratory; though a fen' 
occasionally semi in autumn, but none of their nes • 
h;ive as yet come under my notice. They also frequc"^ 
the sea shore, keeping within the bays and cstnai'' ’ 
of rivers. They swim low in the water, and, wb^^ 
wounded in the ning, very dexterously contrive 
Hutchins, as quoted by Latham. 
