81 



GOOSANDER. 



GREEN-HEADED GOOSANDER. DUN DIVER. 

 PLATE CC. FIG. II. 



Mergus merganser, . . Pennajjt. Montagv. 

 Mergus castor, . . . Moxtagu. Bewick. 



The Goosander builds on small islands in fresh-water 

 lochs in the neighbourhood of the sea, and near the 

 water's edge. 



The nest, which is placed under the cover of bushes, 

 in long grass, among stones, or in the hollow of the 

 stump of a decayed tree, is large altogether, being 

 raised to a height of seven or eight inches, on a mass 

 of dead weeds, but the inner and more finished part 

 is only about seven inches and a half across, and four 

 in depth. It is composed of dry grass and small roots, 

 rather neatly twined together, and lined with the down 

 of the bird. 



The eggs, of a long oval shape, are from four to 

 six, seven or eight, and, Yarrell says, ten or fourteen, 

 in number, or more, though rarely; if removed from 

 the nest, as many as thirty have been successively 

 laid : their colour a uniform buff white or cream yellow. 

 The figure on the plate is from a pale green variety. 

 The female has been seen to carry her young on 

 her back, in the same way as described of the Swan. 

 She leads them to the water as soon as they are hatched. 



