GOOSANDEK. 231 



flock of about twenty frequented the lake at Gunton, 

 eleven were seen at Breydon, five of which were shot, 

 others were killed at Yarmouth, Burgh, Hickling, 

 Rockland, and two on the river at Feltwell. Most of 

 the male birds were in perfect plumage, and the old 

 females were quite as rich in the salmon tint of their 

 breast feathers when first brought in as were the males. 

 In the winter of 1880-1 both adult males and females 

 were met with at various points on the coast and on 

 some of the inland waters, as well as immature birds. 

 The winter of 1883-4 also produced a considerable 

 number, and two early arrivals were said to have been 

 seen on Breydon, on the 25tli September, 1883. Again, 

 in 1886, several good birds were met with, an adult 

 female on the Wensum at Tatterford, near Fakenham, 

 and others in the winter of 1886 and "7 ; in fact, scarcely 

 a winter passes without their being observed in greater 

 or less numbers. 



But it is not only as an accidental winter visitor to 

 this county that the goosander is known, for it may be 

 said to be a regular winter resident on some of the 

 inland waters. Writing in February, 1869, to Mr. 

 Stevenson, Lord SufEeld says, " I have invariably in 

 former years seen some seven or eight goosanders 

 together [on the lake at Gunton] in the month of 

 October ; they always arrive about the same time, the 

 middle of the month. We generally see them now and 

 then throughout the winter, but never in large num- 

 bers. The upper water at Gunton is not more than 

 four miles, as the crow flies, from the sea, and the feeding 

 ground is the best T have seen for wild-fowl in Norfolk; 

 in consequence we always have a great variety of fowl 

 at all times." The Rev. H. H. Lubbock, writing about 

 the same time, says they are never found in larger flocks 

 than nine or ten, and that at that time (February, 1859) 

 " seven had been killed on the Gunton lake, two more 

 are wounded on the water now, and seven more are 

 flying about." Since that time, and probably for many 

 years before, small parties of goosanders have frequented 

 the lake at Gunton almost every winter. Twenty were 

 seen there in January, 1871, and Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 jun., saw thirteen females or young males, on the same 



