178 HILL BIRDS OF SCOTLAND 



order to induce the unfortunate bird to provide him with 

 a further batch. In Finland and in Northern Russia 

 the Goosander is a common summer visitor. 



On the great hills of Asia it nests at the height of 

 10,000 feet. In India it nests amongst the Himalayas. 



At the approach of autumn the Goosander migrates 

 southward, its powerful wings enabling it to make long 

 and sustained flights. It makes its way in search of 

 warmth and sunlight to the southern districts of Spain 

 and to Northern Africa. At times it is found along the 

 Mediterranean, and in the Black Sea is fairly numerous. 

 Eastward it is found across Siberia and Central Asia, 

 visiting Japan and China at the close of the nesting season. 

 In North America it is represented by a sub-species — 

 Mergus merganser americanus. In winter these birds 

 range south to the Gulf of Mexico. 



Description : Male. — Head and upper part of neck 

 black, glossed with green. Inner scapulars black, outer 

 white. Lower back ash grey. Wing coverts white, 

 secondaries narrowly margined with black. The lower 

 parts of the neck, and under parts, white, the latter during 

 the life of the bird bearing a delicate tinge of pink. Bill 

 and iris red. Legs and feet orange red. 



Later in the summer, in his eclipse plumage, the drake 

 differs from the duck in his darker back and by having a 

 ring of black round his neck. The Goosander duck has the 

 head and neck bright chestnut, the red brown contrasting 

 strongly with her white throat. Her upper parts are of 

 a pearl grey. Major coverts broadly tipped with white, 

 with a dusky spot on the inner web. Inner secondaries 

 white. Under parts white except the flanks, which are 

 barred with grey. The young when hatched are of a 

 dark brown colour. 



