the middle of May, but have been able to procure no records of their having 

 bred in the neighbourhood. 



Nests which I have examined are usually but scantily lined with a little 

 moss mixed with a small quantity of pale grey down. The hole is sometimes 

 very deep. I found one nest in Rothiemurchus, where the bird entered at a 

 round hole some eleven feet from the ground, while the nest was at the 

 bottom of the hollow trunk on a level with the ground ; the eggs in this 

 nest could be distinctly seen by applying the eye to a small crack in the 

 trunk. This nest I discovered when tapping the trees for Crested Tits' nests ; 

 on hitting the tree with my stick I heard a tremendous scrambling inside, 

 and presently the duck emerged from the round hole above my head and flew 

 away. This nest was again tenanted in the following year. 



The Goosander lays from seven to twelve eggs ; they are creamy white 

 in colour; sometimes, but rarely, a rich pale buff, and rather glossy, with a 

 somewhat smooth grain. They resemble the eggs of the Scoters ; but the 

 down, which is uniform greyish white, is a safe identification, as also the site 

 of the nest. They vary from 2*35 to 2-48 inches in length, and from i'9 to 

 178 inch in breadth. 



42 



