A meres 161 



Britain. The drake is easily distinguished by the 

 white patch behind the eye and the white wing-bar; 

 the duck has these marks of a duller colour and no 

 yellow on the bill, though there is a small knob on it. 

 The Surf Scoter (OS. perspicillata), which strays to Europe 

 from North America, visits the British coasts in very 

 small numbers, but perhaps more regularly than is 

 supposed. It cannot be mistaken for either of its 

 congeners, for, though it is also black, it has no white 

 wing-patch, but one on the forehead and another that 

 is larger on the nape, while the orange bill has a rect- 

 angular black mark on each side. The general habits 

 of these two species resemble those of the Common 

 Scoter, but the eggs are whiter. 



SUBFAMILY Merginse, OB MERGANSERS 



The last three of our ducks have long thin bills, 

 with hooked tips and serrated (saw-toothed) mandibles. 

 The male of the Goosander (Mergus merganser) is a fine 

 black and white bird, which has a grey rump-region 

 and a salmon-coloured breast, the bill and feet being 

 red. It breeds in the Scottish highlands, where it 

 seems to be increasing, and often is not uncommon on 

 our lakes and larger rivers from autumn to spring. 

 Abroad it ranges from Iceland to Kamtschatka and is 

 known to nest south to Switzerland, while it is, strictly 

 speaking, a bird of the hilly regions in summer. In 

 winter all our species of this group migrate far to the 

 south. Both sexes have a crest, but the head of the 

 female is red-brown instead of black, while she is 

 brownish grey above and duller in other respects. The 

 diet consists mainly of fish, and the voice is harsh. The 

 nest is built by preference in a hollow tree, but may be 



E. B. 11 



