32 OUR RARER BRITISH BREEDING BIRDS. 



as late as 1871, it seems to be gradually increas- 

 ing in numbers, not altogether to the delight of 

 anglers, on account of the trout it kills in Scottish 

 lochs. However, there are a few proprietors who 

 care more for birds than fish, and in consequence 

 will not have it molested. 



It is not so numerous as the Eed-Breasted 

 Merganser, three of the nests of which species 

 I have found within a dozen yards of each other 

 on a tiny islet in a Highland loch. One of these 

 was in a hole right away beneath the roots of a 

 tree, and until I made a careful examination of 

 the old female (which I caught), the down and 

 eggs, I thought I had succeeded in finding a 

 Goosander's nest. 



My brother journeyed a long way on one occa- 

 sion in order to photograph a hollow tree trunk 

 in which a Highland gamekeeper, who was a good 

 practical naturalist, had found a Goosander sitting 

 upon her eggs a year or two ago, but unfortu*- 

 nately discovered when he reached the place that 

 the old piece of timber had dropped to bits, and been 

 partly washed away by the mountain burn on the 

 banks of which it had been grown. The keeper 

 had known of another nest in a hole amongst 

 some rocks on a steep timber-clad hillside over- 

 looking a loch, so our photographer was driven 

 back upon figuring the latter. I examined the 

 hole myself, and found that, although it was in 

 rock, the front was overgrown with heather and 

 moss. 



When the nest is placed in a hollow tree, no 

 materials except down from the bird's own body 

 are used ; but when placed elsewhere such as 

 under rocks or the roots of a tree grass and 

 weeds are utilised in its construction. 



