Mergus americanus. 1873. Maino (Lake Umbagog). Aug. 1. Five young birds about half grown were shot in the Tyler Cove. Sept. 10. George Hayward, one of the trappers, tells me that Sheldrake regularly winter here in small numbers, fishing rapids where the water does not freeze. 1876. June 8. A pair flying about the stubs near the mouth of Ra- pid River. 1879. June 6. George Hayward tells me that this species sits very closely. He once saw a female enter a hole in a tall dead stub. As the tree could not be safely climbed he cut it down. The incessant blows of the axe did not start the bird and it was not until the stub came crash- ing down that she came out. She was in so me way injured by the fall and he caught her. " 15. Sheldrake, Alva Coolidge tells me that he has found the eggs of this Duck in a cavity which descends ten feet from the entrance hole. 1880. May 20. A beautiful adult male flying over B Meadows. Sept. 16. A large flock in the Androscoggin near Leonard's Pond, splashing about in the water and chasing one anoth- er. My guide drove them past me. They came very swift- ly, flying before the north-west wind. I dropped two, one of which dove and did not again appear; the other started for river for the Lake, running on the surface as they do when moulting and going at a tremendous pace; it was absolutely useless to chase him. 1881. May 19. An adult male given me in the flesh. Trides dark but reddish-baael; dull black along the ridge of culmen, dull red on its sides, tarsi and toes dull coral-red; webs brownish-orange; breast and under-parts beautiful rich salmon when freshly killed, fading rapidly after- wards. Alva tells me that the plumage of the male Sheldrake fades as soon as the eggs are laid; he does not consider the present specimen nearly as handsome as they are early in the season.