238 MERGUS MERGANSER. 



with, were all males ; and, from the variation in their 

 colours, it appears evident, that the young birds undergo 

 a considerable change of plumage before they arrive at 

 their full colours. In some, the white spot behind the 

 eye was large, extending irregularly half way down the 

 neck ; in others, confined to a roundish spot. 

 The flesh of this species is said to be excellent. 



GENUS LXVI. MERGUS. 



28^ MERGUS MERGANSER, LINN. AND WILSON. GOOSANDER. 

 WILS. PL. LXVIII. FIG. I. MALE. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 



THIS large and handsomely marked bird belongs to a 

 genus different from that of the duck, on account of the 

 particular form and serratures of its bill. The genus 

 is characterized as follows : " Bill, toothed, slender, 

 cylindrical, hooked at the point ; nostrils, small, oval, 

 placed in the middle of the bill ; feet, four-toed, the 

 outer toe longest." Naturalists have denominated it 

 merganser. In this country, the birds composing this 

 genus are generally known by the name of fishermen, 

 or fisher ducks. The whole number of known species 

 amounts to only nine or ten, dispersed through various 

 quarters of the world ; of these, four species, of which 

 the present is the largest, are known to inhabit the 

 United States. 



From the common habit of these birds in feeding 

 almost entirely on fin and shell fish, their flesh is held 

 in little estimation, being often lean and rancid, both 

 smelling and tasting strongly of fish ; but such are the 

 various peculiarities of tastes, that persons are not 

 wanting who pretend to consider them capital meat. 



The goosander, called by some the water pheasant, 

 and by others the sheldrake, fisherman, diver, &c. is a 

 winter inhabitant only, of the sea shores, fresh water 

 lakes, and rivers of the United States. They usually 

 associate in small parties of six or eight, and are almost 

 continually diving in search of food. In the month of 

 April they disappear, and return again early in Novem- 



