222 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



MERGUS MERGANSER, Linnaus. 



GOOSANDER. 



Mergus merganser, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 208 (1766) ; Komicj, J. f. 0. 



1888, p. 286. 

 Merganser castor, Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mns. xxvii, p. 472 ; 



Locke, E.rpl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 400 (1867). 



Description. — Adult male, winter, from Italy. 



Entire head and upper neck deep black glossed with green ; lower part 

 of neck and wing-coverts chiefly white ; upper back and scapulars black ; 

 primaries and some of the secondaries blackish ; lower back, rump, and tail 

 dark grey ; entire underparts rich rose-tinted white. 



Iris, bill and feet, red. 



Total length 26 inches, wing 11, culmen 2-50, tarsus 2. 



Adult female, crown, nape and neck light rufous-brown; lores and 

 region round the eye dark brown ; upper parts and tail grey ; quills black ; 

 wing-coverts white ; underparts white ; measui'ements rather less than in 

 the male. 



The Goosander is said to occur occasionally on the coasts of the 

 Eegency in very severe winters, and this appears to be the case also 

 in Algeria and Marocco. A male example of the species from Algeria 

 is preserved in the IMilan Museum, under the number 17,971. In 

 Marocco, according to Colonel Irby, Favier once obtained the species 

 near Tangier in October, 1862, and Colonel Irby himself saw another 

 example which had been found dead on the shore near that town 

 during the winter of 1869-1870. The species, however, can only be 

 looked upon as an irregular and accidental visitor to North-west 

 Africa. 



In the Mediterranean generally it is more or less rare, except 

 perhaps in the Adriatic and Venetian districts, where it is often 

 observed, and probably arrives by crossing the Alps, being met with 

 not unfrequently on the Lake of Garda, and in Lombardy. 



In many of its habits, and in its food, the Goosander resembles 

 the more common Red-breasted Merganser, although perhaps less 

 marine than that species, and preferring lakes and inland waters to 

 the sea-coast. Its flight, though rather heavy, is powerful, and 

 capable of being sustained for long distances, while it swims and 

 dives with the greatest ease. 



