GOOSANDER. 179 



of their expected re-appearance. In these localities 

 we have almost invariably found the food to be fish, 

 small trout, or pars. According to Mr. Macgillivray, 

 the Goosander breeds in the vicinity of the lochs on 

 the outer Hebrides. Its summer retreat seems to be 

 principally in Northern Europe, whence it is in win- 

 ter that we have our supplies, as well as the birds 

 which roam over Central Europe ; it may range also 

 to North-eastern Asia, and Temminck records it 

 from Japan. The Prince of Canino gives to it 

 " America generally," and Audubon states that they 

 breed in the interior of the states of New York, &c,, 

 and " suspects" that they advance pretty far into 

 the interior of Mexico. 



This is the largest of the genus ; the colour- 

 ing consists of few tints, principally light, with a 

 marked contrast of dark, softened and relieved 

 by grey and by the rich hues of the bill and legs. 

 The bill is vermilion red; the irides of a purplish 

 red, the feet and legs very rich reddish orange ; 

 the lower part of the neck and breast, belly and vent, 

 lesser wing-covers, secondaries, and scapulars, buff 

 orange, varying in tints from a pale shade to one of 

 extreme richness, fading after death, and often very 

 much lost after exposure to light ; the long tertials 

 are of the same buff-orange, and have on their outer 

 webs a narrow black edge, appearing conspicu- 

 ously from its distinct and generally regular lines ; 

 the mantle, with the last long scapular, rich glossy 

 black, often varied with reflected lights of green ; 

 the middle and lower back, upper tail- covers, and 



