248 
NATATORES 
which breeds away to the northward, and visits us in 
great numbers during Winter, being found almost 
everywhere on the Atlantic coast. They are a noisy, 
lively species, and owing to their reiterated cries, 
they have been called u Noisy Ducks ) ” they have, 
however, other names applied to them, such as u Old 
Wives ” and u Old Squaws.” 
Hooded Merganser. 
With the Hooded Merganser we must close our 
brief notices of the Ducks. This showy and elegant 
bird is more an inhabitant of our western and 
southern waters than of the eastern coast. It can- 
not then be said to be an abundant species in Penn- 
sylvania. It breeds along the Mississippi, the Ohio, 
and the great Lakes, as well as further northward, 
and during Winter it is said sometimes to retire as 
far southward as Mexico. The plumage of this bird 
is indeed very beautiful. The thick, flat, tufted crest 
which covers the whole head, and much resembles a 
