GOOSANDER. 1 69 



some few remain during the summer months. It is very rarely met 

 with inland, although in hard weather it sometimes pays a passing 

 visit to the upper reaches of the Wye, in Herefordshire. 



The Scoter is a very expert diver, and is able to remain a long 

 time under water. In this way it gets its food, which consists 

 almost exclusively of shell fish, such as mussels and other marine 

 animals and insects. It visits the banks where shell-fish, even at 

 low tide, are still two or three feet under water. There the birds are 

 sometimes caught in considerable numbers, by nets simply spread 

 on the water horizontally, in which they are entangled as they come 

 up. The nature of their food causes their flesh to have such a very 

 strong, oily, fishy taste, that in Roman Catholic countries it is said 

 to be considered identical with fish, and to be thus allowed to be 

 eaten during Lent, and on fast days. This privilege causes much 

 destruction of the birds ; and many devices are resorted to for their 

 capture at those times. 



[CEdemia fusca — Velvet Scoter.] 

 Not very uncommon. Breeds in Scotland. 



[CEdemia perspicillata — Surf-Scoter.] 

 A very rare winter visitor. 



Genus— MERGUS. 

 MERGUS MERGANSER— Goosander. 



The Goosander is a winter visitor, coming in November and 

 leaving in March. The flocks, which are not large, generally consist 

 of families, or young birds of the year ; the male bird, which is very 

 handsome and striking in appearance, being extremely rare. The 

 Goosander frequents fresh-water rivers and lakes, as well as the sea- 

 shore and its estuaries. It is, however, rarely seen in Hereford- 

 shire, except in hard winters. The Rev. Clement Ley saw both 



