DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 
47 
Remarks. — The female is distinguished from the female americanus by 
smaller size, slenderer bill, and position of nostril. 
Distribution. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, breeding in Amer¬ 
ica from Illinois and Minnesota north to Alaska and Greenland ; south in 
winter over the United States. 
Nest. — On ground near water, hidden in grass and weeds, made of leaves, 
grass, and moss, lined with down. Eggs : 8 to 10, olive buff. 
The red-breasted merganser is a common duck of the clear streams 
and lakes, a good diver and fisher, but rarely fat and often flavored 
by its favorite food. 
GENUS LOPHODYTES. 
131. Lophodytes cucullatus {Linn.). Hooded Merganser. 
Bill narrow, slender, and with terminal part cylindrical, armed along 
edges of mandibles with 
blunt, scarcely inclined 
teeth; head with high 
thin, wheel-shaped crest, 
less prominent in female. 
Adult male. — Head, 
neck, and back black; 
middle of crest and under 
parts, white; sides light 
brown, finely cross-lined 
with black. Adult female: 
upper parts grayish brown, 
browner on crest; patch 
on wing, throat, and belly 
white. Young: similar to 
female, but with little or 
no crest. Length: 17.25- 
19.25, wing 7.50-7.90, bill 
1.5°. 
Distribution. — North 
America from Alaska to 
Cuba and Mexico, breed¬ 
ing throughout most of its 
range. Fig. 64. 
Nest. — In hollow trees, 
lined with grass, feathers, and down. Eggs: 6 to 10, ivory white. 
The hooded merganser or saw-bill is widely distributed and often 
abundant during migration, frequently gathering in large flocks in 
the rice lakes. It becomes very fat and its flesh rarely has any flavor 
of fish. In fall it is one of the last ducks to leave, lingering on the 
half frozen lakes and streams of the northern states. A little flock 
may now and then be found in open rapids, when all the still water 
is covered with ice. Vernon Bailey. 
GENUS ANAS. 
General Characters. — Bill flat, long, and slightly wider near end than 
toward base ; wing with purple or green iridescent speculum occupying a 
