The Mergansers. 395 



colours of the underpart are clearly exposed 

 to view. . . . 



" Throughout the districts in which I 

 met with Goosanders during the breeding 

 season, the females appeared in some 

 instances to resort to situations for 

 nesting purposes at a considerable eleva- 

 tion on the hills. A cavity in a large 

 and partially decayed birch was pointed 

 out by a keeper as the spot from which 

 some eggs (previously seen in his pos- 

 session) had been taken. The old and 

 weather-beaten stump was on the out- 

 skirts of a thicket of birch, fir, and 

 alder, stretching from a swamp up a steep 

 brae, and within a mile of a loch on which 

 I have repeatedly watched two or three 

 broods. The tree was carefully examined, 

 and I noticed that down from the breast 

 of the bird was still clinging to the rotten 

 wood ; the general appearance also of the 

 rubbish in the hollow left little doubt as 

 to the truth of the statement. . . . 



" Goosanders are blessed with a strong, 

 healthy appetite, their visits at times 

 proving exceedingly distasteful to the 

 custodians of lakes and rivers. When 

 wounded or alarmed, I have occasionally 

 remarked that an immense quantity of 

 fish was thrown up. After a shot with a 



