170 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



as far as the eye could reach, so that the birds would be 

 left undisturbed year after year. Near the head of the 

 burn trout were extremely abundant, every pool being 

 crowded with fish of various sizes, but gradually I noticed 

 that the trout became less numerous until scarcely a 

 single individual could be made out even in the most 

 likely pools. The white droppings of a Goosander on 

 his favourite stone, and a sight of both birds as they rose 

 in front of me and winged their way rapidly down stream, 

 at once explained the scarcity of fish at that part of the 

 burn. A short time before this occurrence, I had been 

 told by a veteran watcher on a neighbouring deer forest, 

 that every trout on his beat had been eaten up by a pair of 

 Goosanders, and after my own experience I am inclined 

 to attach a good deal of truth to his statement. 



In its habits, as in its appearance, the Goosander 

 resembles its ally, the Red-Breasted Merganser, so much so 

 that the two birds are often confused — and, indeed, even 

 the name, Red-Breasted Merganser, is almost unknown 

 in some parts of the Highlands where the birds themselves 

 are not uncommon. As a general rule, it is true, the 

 Goosander is the larger bird, but the Merganser varies 

 considerably in size. Especially close is the resemblance 

 between the hen birds of the two species, and only a near 

 view of the hen can place her identity beyond dispute. 



But in their nesting habits there is considerable differ- 

 ence. The Merganser is, perhaps, the latest of all the 

 ducks to commence to brood, for June has arrived before 

 her clutch is completed, whereas the Goosander may 

 be sitting tight as early as April 4th. The nests of the 

 two species can always be identified at once by the down 

 on which the eggs rest. The down of the Goosander is 

 of a creamy yellow throughout, whereas that of the Mer- 

 ganser is light grey with a bluish tinge, the centres being 

 almost white, and the tips greyish white. The Merganser, 



