THE HOODED MERGANSERS. 
57 
inner greater coverts with white tips, the inner secondaries 
^' hite along their outer webs, forming a small speculum, the 
innermost secondaries white down the centre ; under surface 
of body white, the sides of the body brown, more ashy on the 
sides of the upper breast ; bill and feet as in the male, but not 
so bright. Total length, 23 inches ; wing, T 3 - 
Young Males.— Resemble the old female and have a rufous 
crest, but this is smaller and less developed, and has not the 
hoary whitish ends to the feathers ; the crown, sides of the 
face, and throat are dark brown, interspersed generally with a 
lew black feathers ; some of the flank-fen.thers are also rufous, 
with black cross-bars, much coarser than in the adult male. 
Kange in Great Britain. — Very few authenticated instances of 
the occurrence of the Hooded Merganser are on record, 
though it is indubitable that this North American species is an 
occasional visitant to our coasts. As might have been ex- 
pected, the species has chiefly occurred off the shores of Ireland, 
where Sir Ralph Paync-Gallwey says that he has himself killed 
three specimens. 
®ange outside the British Islands. — That the present species is 
only an accidental visitor to Europe is proved by the fact that, 
beyond the British specimens, not a single instance of the 
occurrence of the Hooded Merganser on other coasts of 
Europe has been recorded. It is strictly a North American 
species, wandering south in winter to Mexico and the Greater 
Antilles. 
Hahits. — Like all the Mergansers, the present species is an 
expert diver. In its habits it does not differ from its allies, 
being shy during the breeding-season, and collecting in flocks 
in the winter. 
Nest. — Placed in a hollow tree or hollow of a fallen log, the 
nest consisting merely of a little dry grass, and plentifully 
lined with down. 
Eggs. — Five to eight in number. The first thing that strikes 
the observer is their curious roundness. In colour they are 
white or ivory-white. Axis, 2-0-2-25 inches; diam., i-6s-i-8 
Down. — Very pale grey. 
