BRITISH BIRDS. 



349 



THE GOOSANDER. 



(Mcrgus Merganser, Linn. Grand harlc, Temm.) 



THE male generally weighs about four pounds, 

 and measures in length two feet three inches, and 

 in breadth, three feet two inches. The bill is slen- 

 der, and turned a little upwards ; it is three inches 

 long from the hooked nail or tip to the corners of 

 the mouth, but little more than two inches on the 

 ridge; both mandibles are black on the upper and 

 under parts, and crimson on the sides; they are 

 sharply toothed on the edges* and on the inside of 

 the upper, which is narrow, thin, and hard at the 

 tip, there is a double row of smaller teeth: the 

 tongue is furnished with a similar kind of double 

 row, running along the middle, and edged with a 

 kind of hairy boyder: the irides are commonly of a 

 fine red colour, but in some dusky. The head is 

 covered or crowned with a great quantity of 



