THE GOOSANDER. 411 



and bills is suggestive of suffering cold, amidst the snow 

 and ice, but their feet and legs contain no carneous or fleshy 

 substance, only white, bloodless tendons, nearly void of feel- 

 ing; so this color, reminding one of chilblained hands, is only 

 a delusion. The best cow-hide boots and woolen stockings 

 could scarcely make our feet more comfortable than are those 

 of a Goosander on the coldest winter day, while his closely 

 imbricated feathers, with a heavy coat of down at base and 

 well oiled at the surface, far surpassing any suit of rubber, 

 keep out every drop of water. At this time of year male 

 and female are generally seen together, though it is not al- 

 ways easy to distinguish the latter, as it takes the male some 

 two years to reach the final colors of his sex. In the early 

 spring, flocks consisting entirely of the old or mature males 

 may be seen about our lakes and streams. They are then 

 probably on their way from the south, and, as is common 

 with many other birds in the migrations, are preceding the 

 females. The bright salmon of their under parts gives 

 them almost a rosy appearance as they rise from the water 

 amidst snow-banks and floating ice. About this time, 

 however, many may be seen in single pairs, the sexes 

 having, for the most part, chosen partners for the season. 

 Though the Goosander can walk and run well on land, 

 his home is on the water. Here, as an expert diver, he pro- 

 cures his food, of small fishes, little mollusks and crustaceans, 

 and frogs, of which he devours great quantities. For capt- 

 uring fishes, which he raises out of the water and swal- 

 lows head foremost, the sharply and backwardly serrated 

 edges of his bill are particularly adapted. This bird is 

 fond of plunging beneath rushing currents for its food, and 

 should it encounter a raft of floating rubbish or an ice- 

 cake, it will readily pass underneath it. It swims so deeply 

 as to afford the gunner but a small mark, and dives so 



