164 COMMON MERGANSER. 



ated from the rarity of the birds of this stirps in 

 Britain ; connected also with the fact that the young 

 males generally put on the plumage of the adult 

 females ; which last consequently accounts for the 

 well known circumstance of finding, apparently, both 

 sexes of the Dundiver in Britain, and but one sex 

 of the Goosander. Temminck and other continental 

 writers are of opinion that there exists but one species 

 among the three supposed sexes that are apparent in 

 this ; and as both the Dundiver and Goosander are 

 always observed in the same haunts, I have very little 

 doubt of their observations being in accordance with 

 the dictates of nature, and as such I have adopted 

 the synonyma above quoted, with reference to Tem- 

 minck's arrangement. 



This species inhabits the arctic regions of the old 

 and new continents, migrating towards the south 

 upon the approach of winter : during which season 

 it is particularly abundant in Holland and France, 

 but in very severe frosts retiring to the lakes in the 

 more internal parts of the continent. It occurs but 

 sparingly in Great Britain, unless during very hard 

 winters, when they are common on the fresh water 

 pools, rivers, and fens of the East Riding of York- 

 shire, and in the fens of Lincolnshire. They remain, 

 according to Pennant, all the year in the Orkneys, 

 and are found during the summer in the Hebrides. 

 They retire to the north to breed, the female making 

 her nest among the loose stones on the borders of 

 rivers, or in a hollow tree : she usually lays from twelve 

 to fourteen whitish eggs, which are of nearly equal 

 diameter at each end. These birds generally feed on 



