GOOSANDER 



Mergus merganser 



[URING winter the Goosander is a fairly common visitor 

 to the British Islands, and is met with in most suitable 

 localities both on the coast and inland. It is perhaps not 

 quite so abundant in Ireland. It breeds sparingly in 

 Strathspey and the neighbouring districts, and has occurred 

 in a few other localities in the north of Scotland. 



The Goosander is a slightly larger bird than the 



Mallard. It swims and dives with great ease, but walks very awkwardly on 

 land, as its legs are set very far back, like those of the Cormorant. It flies 

 with great ease and rapidity, as its wings are longer than is usual with diving 

 ducks. It seems to prefer rivers and inland lochs to the sea-coast, and likes 

 a wild part of the country, abounding in forest-trees, swamps, rivers and 

 rocky shores of lakes. 



Its note is wild and harsh, not unlike the guttural ' karrr, karrr ' of many 

 of the Diving Ducks. Its food consists principally of fish, which it obtains 

 by diving, but it also takes water-insects and small molluscs. Its serrated 

 bill allows it to hold its slippery prey with ease. When captured, a fish is 

 always brought to the surface to be swallowed, and the bird generally drinks 

 after accomplishing this, and stretches out its neck two or three times. 



The Goosander is a fairly early breeder, eggs being laid in April. In 

 this country the site usually chosen is a hollow tree, generally an alder, as 

 that tree affords the best holes for the purpose, but there are one or two 

 records of the nest being found in holes in the ground, generally in a peat 

 bank or under the root of some tree. In Strathspey there are many alders 

 with holes in them specially adapted for nesting sites, and in this locality 

 the Goosander has increased rapidly during the last few years. I have seen 

 pairs of Goosanders on most of the lochs in the Trossachs, often as late as 

 VOL. in. L 41 



