246 WATER' FOWL. 



twenty feet from the ground, the eggs are deposited and 

 the young hatched. For so large and heavy a bird, it is 

 very quick and agile, and I have seen it dart among 

 the trees, and enter and leave the nest with an easy 

 dexterity that was stirprising. It alights and walks 

 upon the branches without any difficulty, and it is a 

 curious sight to observe so large a member of tlie Duck 

 tribe living upon the trees. 



This bird is the rarest, I think, of all the Mergansers 

 or Fish Ducks. At all events that is the case in the 

 Atlantic States, but it is much more frequently met with 

 in different parts of the West and on the Pacific coast. 

 When it appears in the autumn coming from its north- 

 ern breeding grounds, it arrives in flocks of considerable 

 size, but in a short time these break up into small parties, 

 and keep by themselves, for in my experience, the Goos- 

 ander does not often associate with other Ducks, but 

 seems best satisfied with the company of two or three of 

 its own species. It flies with great rapidity usually in a 

 direct line, if over water, but if in the woods, twists 

 and turns among the trees and dodges the intervening 

 branches with the dexterity of a wild pigeon. The eggs 

 are bufify white, and the young are carried down to the 

 water by the mother in her bill. The little things are 

 most expert swimmers and divers from the moment they 

 enter the water, and require no teaching to become pro- 

 ficient in these accomplishments. They follow the 

 mother closely, either huddled around her in a compact 

 mass, or strung out behind her, snatching insects from 

 the surface of the water. If alarmed they scurry away 

 with a speed that is marvelous, running in fact over the 

 bosom of the lake or river; the flock leaving a wake be- 

 hind them like that of a miniature boat. They do not 

 dive unless hard pressed, but trust at first to skimming 



