BUFF-BREASTED GOOSANDER. 213 



as in many districts in England, in the southern parts of 

 which it is, however, of very rare occurrence. In Ireland, 

 also, it occurs " in very limited numbers." At all seasons, it 

 prefers lakes and rivers to estuaries, but may be seen, even 

 in summer, fishing in the sea, especially in the lochs or inden- 

 tations so common in Scotland. Being a heavy bird, with 

 the body much depressed, and the plumage not remarkably 

 full, it has the appearance of sitting deep in the water. It 

 dives with extreme agility, remains long under the surface, 

 and swims there with great speed. Its food consists of fishes 

 of various kinds, but with us more especially trouts, of which 

 eighteen were found in the gullet of one killed on the Tweed 

 in the winter of 1838. Being shy, vigilant, and active, it is 

 not easily obtained, as it neither admits a near approach, nor 

 usually remains above water until the shot reaches it. In 

 rising on wing it proceeds at a low angle, striking the water 

 with its feet and wings, to the distance of several yards. Its 

 flight is rapid, like that of a Duck, and performed at a consi- 

 derable height, when it is travelling toward a distant place. 

 The male emits a rough grunting cry, which, however, is very 

 seldom heard. In the northern estuaries and bays, pretty 

 large flocks are sometimes seen ; but it is much more com- 

 mon to meet with the bird in pairs, or even singly, in most 

 parts of the country. Although not very unfrequently seen 

 in our markets, it is not there held in estimation, its flesh 

 being coarse, and having the fishy flavour ^of that of the 

 Divers and Cormorants, to which the Mergansers are allied 

 in their mode of living. 



The nest is said to be placed near the water, among the 

 herbage, and to be composed of dry grass, sedge, fibrous roots, 

 and other similar materials, with a lining of down plucked 

 by the female from her breast. As observed by him in Ame- 

 rica, it is described by Mr. Audubon as being " very large, 

 at times raised seven or eight inches on the top of a bed of 

 all the dead weeds which the bird can gather in the neigh- 

 bourhood. Properly speaking, the real nest, however, is not 

 larger than that of the Dusky Duck, and is rather neatly 

 formed externally of fibrous roots, and lined round the edges 

 with the down of the bird. The interior is about seven and 



