492 ANATID^. 



in our bird the black is concealed by the overlying middle 

 coverts. There is also said to be a difference in the pro- 

 portions of the bill in the two forms, and by this alone — if 

 it be constant — can the females of each be distinguished. 

 This American form breeds from 42° lat. northwards to the 

 Fur Countries, from ocean to ocean ; its winter migrations 

 extending to Texas, Mexico, and, occasionally, to the Ber- 

 mudas. 



As already stated, the Goosander generally makes its nest 

 in the hollow of a tree, or amongst its gnarled roots ; 

 sometimes, however, on a ledge of rock, but almost inva- 

 riably under some kind of shelter. The eggs are of a 

 peculiar creamy-white, very different from the greenish-buff 

 of those of the Ked-breasted Merganser, which they have 

 often been said to resemble ; average measurements 2*7 by 

 1*8 in. Mr. Booth has remarked that until the young 

 arrive at the age of a month or five weeks, the female seldom 

 leads her brood into the deep waters of the loch or river, 

 keeping them in the shallows, where there is less danger of 

 their falling victims to their great enemy, the voracious pike. 

 He never heard any sound uttered by the female or brood 

 unless disturbed or driven, or when moving off of their own 

 accord. The note is a low plaintive whistle, not unlike the 

 cry of some young Hawks. He also noticed that although 

 the young birds had not a pinion-feather on their wing-joints, 

 they appeared on rising after a dive to spring upwards and 

 flap along the surface for at least a yard or two, striking 

 the water at the same time with their feet. 



The food of the Goosander consists almost entirely of 

 fish ; its flesh is strong in flavour, and scarcely eatable, even 

 by a, hungry man. 



In the adult male the bill is vermilion -red, the superior 

 ridge of the upper mandible and the nail black ; the irides 

 red ; the head and upper part of the neck rich shining 

 green, with the occipital feathers elongated ; upper part of 

 the back and the scapulars black ; lower part of the back, 

 upper tail-coverts and tail-feathers ash-grey ; point of the 

 wing, and all the wing-coverts white ; wing-primaries nearly 



