LIFE HISTORIES OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD FOWL. 11 



On the other hand I quote from Mr. Walter H. Rich (1907) as 

 follows: 



Seen uuder the water iu pursuit ol a breakfast or dodging about to escape capture 

 when wounded the resemblance to some finny dweller of the sea is very marked — 

 head and neck outstretched, every feather hugged closely to the body, the half-opened 

 wings like large fins aiding the feet in their work, he goes shooting through the water 

 like a flash. 



Probably both observers are correct, for birds arc not bound by 

 hard and fast rules. The rapidity with which this species can dive 

 from the air is remarkable. While in full flight it plunges into the 

 water, swims below the surface for a distance and then suddenly 

 emerges and continues its flight. Millais (1913) says of its behavior 

 on land: 



The walk is very heavy and rolling, and the feet are placed on tlie ground deliber- 

 ately, whilst the bill is pointed downward, and each step taken as if the bird was 

 afraid of tripping or falling. They seldom go more than a yard or two from the water's 

 edge, but can run quite swiftly for a fe^y yards if suddeuh' surprised. In winter it 

 is a very rare event to see goosanders ashore, but in spring they often leave the water, 

 and will spend hours sleeping and preening on some small island or point of land. 

 No birds are more industrious in their toilet than the mergansers in spring, and most 

 of their time, v/hen not feeding, flpng, or sleeping, is spent in polishing up their 

 nlumage and bathing. 



Of the vocal performances of this species 1 know very little; I 

 have never heard a sheldrake utter a sound, so far as I can remember, 

 and very little seems to have been written on the subject. Audubon 

 (1840) describes the notes of the goosander as ''harsh, consisting of 

 hoarse croaks, seldom uttered unless the bird be suddenly startled 

 or when courting." 



Game. — As they live almost exclusively on fish, sheldrakes are not 

 considered good table birds and so are not much sought after by 

 gunners. But young sheldrakes are not unpalatable, and many 

 gunners shoot them regularly for food. They do not come to decoys, 

 but, as they are swift fliers and hard to kill, shooting them is good 

 sport. Many sportsmen feel justiiied in killing them on account of 

 the large numbers of trout which they consume; but this is hardly 

 justifiable, for they also destroy many predatory fish, such as pick- 

 erel and thus help to preserve the balance of nature. 



Fall. — The name "pond sheldrake " has been applied to this species 

 because it shows more preference for fresh water than its relative, 

 the red-breasted merganser, its fall migration is more inland, where 

 it flies along our larger water courses and frequents our lakes and 

 ponds until it is forced coastwise by the freezing of its favorite resorts. 



