MERGUS AMERICANUS. 
The American Merganser, or Goosander, is a common 
species late in the autumn, but full plumaged males are 
rarely seen, as they migrate very late. About forty-eight 
appear on the records, or one and one-half per cent. The 
true status of the bird is really greater, from two to four 
per cent probably, as they are common in the Lake after the 
shooting is over, and even when present, not many are shot. 
Mergansers of both species have occasionally been listed 
as “sheldrake,” so that the exact number of this and the 
following species is not absolutely certain. 
MERGUS SERRATOR. 
The Red-breasted Merganser is not a common species, and 
only about fifteen have been taken. They are too much of a 
salt water bird during the autumn flight. 
LOPHODYTES CUCULLATUS . 
The Hooded Merganser is one of the species that has 
shown a decided decrease in the past ten years. It is 
represented by fifty-eight specimens, or two per cent, but 
should really appear in a greater proportion, perhaps four 
per cent, as they were not always shot at. For the first 
decade forty five were shot and forty-seven others seen. 
For the last decade thirteen only were shot and twenty- 
seven others observed. This seems to represent a decrease 
of fifty or sixty per cent. A general decrease of this bird 
is of course a well-known fact, and was noted long ago by 
William Brewster in his field notes at Umbagog Lake, 
Maine. 
BRANTA CANADENSIS CANADENSIS. 
The observations on geese are of no particular interest 
as the stand was often closed before the largest migration 
took place. The appearance of geese at Wenham is irreg¬ 
ular, and far less are seen than at points south of Boston, 
because this locality lies too far west. Nevertheless there 
is good evidence of an increase in geese here, just as there 
is along their main pathway between Boston and the base 
of Cape Cod (see Auk 1921 p. 271). 
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