394 Manual of the Game Birds of India, 



I reproduce the following remarks on 

 the Goosander from Mr. E. T. Booth's 

 " Rough Notes " :— " An adult female 

 with her half-fledged brood resting quietly 

 in the bright sunshine on the unruffled 

 surface of one of the larger lochs, presents 

 a sight that would doubtless prove puzzling 

 to one unacquainted with the habits of 

 these singular birds. The female, ever 

 on the alert for the first signs of danger, 

 floats motionless with her head drawn 

 back and beak resting on the feathers of 

 the breast, the youngsters by whom she 

 is surrounded appearing to vary in colour 

 from a creamy salmon to a dull slate. 

 One moment half or three-fourths of the 

 brood show up the former conspicuous 

 tint, while shortly after a transformation 

 takes place and the colours are reversed. 

 A glance through a strong binocular at 

 once solves the mystery, and reveals the 

 half-fledged juveniles spreading themselves 

 out to enjoy the warmth of the sun. 

 From time to time a portion of the brood 

 turn over on their backs, remaining often 

 in this position for several seconds ; the 

 next minute a bird or two may be seen, 

 each with one foot flapping in the air and 

 paddling slowly round with the other ; 

 while engaged in these antics the bright 



