HOODED MERGANSER. 
HOODED SHELEDRAKE. 
LoI’HODYTKS CUCUIXATUS. 
Char. Male: upper parts black; wings and tail with a brownish 
tinge- a triangular patch of white on the nape; under parts white, the 
breast with two crescentic stripes of black, and sides varied with lines 
of yellowish brown ; bill leaden blue, with a white nail ; legs dull red. 
Length about 19 inches. Female is rather sm.aller; upper parts dark 
brown ; crest reddish brown ; under parts white ; breast pale brown. 
Nest. In a hole in tree, or stump, or fallen log, lined with grass and 
leaves covered ’with down. 
Eggs. 5-iS (usually about 8); ivory white; 2.10 X i.yS* 
This elegant species is peculiar to North America, and in- 
habits the interior and northern parts of the fur countries to 
their utmost limits. It is also among the latest of the ANATiud! 
to quit those cold and desolate regions. It makes a nest of 
withered grass and feathers in retired and unfrequented places, 
by the grassy borders of rivers and lakes. According to Au- 
dubon, it also breeds around the lagoons of the Ohio, and on 
the Great Northwestern Lakes of the interior. On the River 
St. Peters, in the 4Sth parallel, Mr. Say observed examples on 
the 18th of July, — no doubt in the same place where they had 
