GOOSANDER. 105 
of January, 1850. In Nottinghamshire, ‘on December 17th., 
1844, a Goosander took up its abode on the Trent, and stayed 
some weeks. It was not shy, and when fired at with a gun 
merely dived below the surface of the stream, and re-appeared 
after a few seconds. When observed unmolested, its manners 
were pleasing and amusing, as it swam leisurely on the water, 
pecking and pruning its plumage, or occasionally dipping 
underneath. The Trent was partly covered with ice, and it 
would disappear near the edge of a large piece, and after 
diving under it perhaps for fifty yards, again come to the 
surface. Several individuals have been shot off the river.’ 
These birds were very numerous along the coasts of Norfolk, 
Suffolk, and Essex, in the winter of 1829-30. They are of 
frequent occurrence, that is to say young birds, the old ones 
being only met with in very severe weather. One at Guyhirn 
Wash, on the 7th. of December, 1849. They occur near 
Yarmouth occasionally, in hard winters. In the county of 
Durham a pair of Goosanders, male and female, were shot 
on the Tees, near Stockton, the middle of March, 1858. The 
former was found to have part of a gold ear-ring in its 
gizzard: what was its history? November Ist., 1852, one 
was shot near Belvere Castle, Leicestershire. It has also 
occurred in Surrey, near Godalming; and likewise in Dorset- 
shire, Northumberland, Sussex, and Kent. These birds are 
now and then exposed for sale in the London markets. 
It is not uncommon- in the Hebrides, and breeds in those 
islands—North Uist, and others. The Rev. G. Low has 
mentioned also that it used to do so in Orkney. It seems 
to be now only a winter visitant there. 
In Scotland it is not uncommon in the county of Sutherland. 
In Ireland they are unusual visitants at the same season. 
These birds frequent the sea-coast, and the mouths of rivers, 
the course of which latter they follow up in quest of food; 
and also inland lakes. 
The vernal migration of this species takes place in February 
or March; the autumnal in November. The former to, the 
latter from the north. 
In the autumn and winter they assemble in small flocks 
of about six or eight. They are sociable among themselves, 
but do not mix by choice with other water-fowl. The Rev. 
James Smith, of the Manse of Mongqunitter, by Turriff, 
Aberdeenshire, writes the following particulars of this bird in 
the ‘Zoologist,’ pages 2295-6. ‘While the male almost uni- 
