ceii Sui/iDa;. BIRDS. Pelecanid2e. 
RUDDY DUCK {Erismatura ruhida) has a habi- 
tat ranging over tlie whole of North America south 
to Guatemala, where it has been found breeding. It 
is also found in Cuba. Wilson regarded this as a 
very rare Duck. Dr. Ooues found it breeding in 
numbers in the pools about 'I'urtle Mountains, in 
Dakota, where the young were swimming in July, 
lie also saw it during the breeding season in Mon- 
tana. It is fifteen inches in length, and twenty-two 
in extent of wing. 'I'lie bill is broad at the tip, the 
under mandible much narrower, and both of a light 
rich blue. A species, called the St. Domingo Duck 
[E. dominica), is a native of the West Indies, and 
occasionally found on our continent. 
SHELDRAKE {Mergus merganser ) — also called 
Merganser, Fishing Duck, and Goosander — has a 
range throughout North America generally, usually 
associating in small numbers of six or eight, and is a 
most persistent diver. 'I'he male is twenty-six inches 
in length, and three feet three inches in extent of 
wing. 'I’he bill, which is slender and cylindrical, 
measures three inches in length, and nearly one inch 
thick at the base, is serrated on both mandibles, 
the upper overhanging at the tip, where each is fur- 
nished with a large nail. 'J’he ridge of the bill is 
black ; the sides, crimson ; irides, red. • 
HOODED MERGANSER [M. CMCwZ^ates)— called 
Hairy-head in some localities — is one of the most 
striking birds, on account of its singular hood-like 
appendage on the top of the head. Its habitat is 
the whole of North America. 'J'hey are more com- 
mon along the lakes and fresh-water rivers than near 
the sea, being found up the various creeks and mill- 
ponds, where they dive incessantly for shell-fish. In 
the creeks and rivers of the Southern States they 
are common during the winter. The Hooded Mer- 
ganser is eighteen inches in length, and two feet in 
extent ot wing. The bill is blackish- red, narrow, 
thickly toothed, and furnished with a projecting nail 
at the extremity. 'I’he large circular crest with 
which the head is ornamented may be raised or de- 
pressed. The windpipe has a small labyrinth. 'J'he 
lemale is less in size, with a smaller crest of a light 
rusty color. 'I'his species is peculiar to America, 
arriving at Hudson’s Bay about the end of May.- It 
builds close to the lakes, the nest being comjiosed of 
grass, lined with feathers from the breast. 
Family— SHLID.^.. 
'I’he Gannets. 
'I’he Gannets are large and heavy birds. 'I'hey are 
not numerous in species, six only being known, and 
these are pretty well distributed throughout the 
world. 'I’hey are very gregarious in habit, congre- 
gating in immense numbers in their breeding places. 
THE COMMON GANNET {Sula -'I’liis 
species extends, on the Atlantic Coast, from the 
high latitudes to the Gulf of Mexico, but is not 
found on the Pacific shore. Its length is about thirty 
inches ; extent o<f wings, sixty inches. 'I’he adult 
bird is pure white. 'I’he young are gray, mottled or 
spotted with white. 
BOOBY GANNET (8. fiber) is peculiarly a tropical 
species, being exceedingly frequent in the harbors 
and bays of the Southern Coast. It is considerably 
smaller than the last. A constant habit of this bird 
is to roost on the buoys of the outer harbors. Cer- 
tain individuals take up their abode there, and may 
always be counted on being found at their post. We 
have noted this, particularly when some accidental 
iniury to the bird betrayed his identity. 
Family— PELEOANID. dE. 
Pelicans. 
WHITE PELICAN [Pelecanus trachyrhynchus ). — 
'I’his bird has a range northward as far as latitude 
61°, and possibly farther. It is rare in the Middle 
States and New England, but abundant in the in- 
terior, especially west of the Mississippi and south 
as far as 'I’exas and Northern Florida. In South 
Florida, where the Brown Pelican is abundant, it is 
not known. It formerly bred in great numbers 
about the Great Salt Lake, but has lately decreased 
in numbers. Mr. llidgway saw vast numbers nest- 
ing about Pyramid Lake, in Nevada, where he pro- 
cured over a hundred eggs. He has shown that the 
crest of the Pelican is shed in a manner somewhat 
similar to the casting of a deer’s horn.' 'I’he breed- 
ing range of the species is said to be very extensive. 
Audubon’s account of this bird is interesting : 
“ Ranging along the margin of a sand-bar, in broken 
array, stand a hundred heavy-bodied Pelicans. Gor- 
geous tints, all autumnal, enrich the foliage of every 
tree around, the reflection of which, like fragments 
of a rainbow, seems to fill the very depths of the 
placid and almost sleeping waters of the Ohio. 'J’he 
subdued and ruddy beams of the orb of day assure 
me that the Indian summer has commenced — that 
happy season of unrivalled loveliness and serenity, 
symbolic of autumnal life, which to every enthusiastic 
lover of nature must be the purest and calmest period 
of his career. Pluming themselves, the gorged Peli- 
cans patiently await the return of hunger. Should 
one chance to gape, the whole number, as if from 
sympathy, in succession ojien their long and broad 
mandibles, yawning lazily and ludicrously. Now, 
the whole length of their largest quills is passed 
through the bill, until at length their apparel is as 
beautifully trimmed as if the party were to figure at a 
route. But mark the red beams of the setting sun 
tinge the tall tops of the forest trees. 'I’he birds ex- 
perience the cravings of hunger, and to satisfy them 
they must now labor. Clumsily they now rise on 
their columnar legs, and heavily waddle to the water. 
But now how changed do they seem ! Lightly do they 
float, as they marshal themselves and extend their 
line, and now their broad paddle-like feet propel 
them onward. In yonder nook the small fry are 
dancing in the quiet water — perhaps in their own 
manner bidding farewell to the orb of day — perhaps 
seeking something for supper. 'I'iiousands there are, 
all gay, and the very manner of their mirth, causing 
the waters to sparkle, invites their foes to advance to- 
wards the shoal. And now the Pelicans, aware of 
