132 NATURAL HISTORY [Birds. 



I once killed a bird of this kind in Orkney which weighed 

 two pounds, except two ounces ; it was a male, the colours 

 were the same, the shape of the bill and legs the same as in 

 the larger goosander, only the whole head, neck, and breast 

 were black. It could not be a young bird, as it was in March 

 I shot it, when these birds have not bred. Queer e, What bird 

 might it have been the male of? 



The goosanders are excellent swimmers and divers ; conti- 

 nue very long under water; are excellently furnished for seizing 

 and holding any small fish they can catch in the water ; the 

 bill is not only formed with a nail or hook, but the edges are 

 toothed the whole way, so that there is no escape for the 

 prey. 



The colours of the bill and head of the male and female 

 are much different. In the former it is of a fine red, especially 

 in the spring, the head and crest black, with a white collar 

 about the neck. In the female, the bill is dusky above and red 

 below ; the head and neck brown inclining to red ; the ring 

 not so well defined ; the whole body is much browner ; the 

 marks on the wings are the same, only fainter in the female. 



