THE GOOSANDER. 527 



wake of a boat from which it had been wounded : and it 

 actually followed for a considerable distance before it was 

 discovered. I have noticed, in other Sea Ducks, this trait 

 of following behind a boat, and conclude that it is done for 

 concealment. 



I am not aware that this species breeds in New Eng- 

 land. It breeds in localities in the same latitude with 

 the most northern sections of these States ; but I am 

 inclined to think that it is less of a southern species than 

 the succeeding. 



It is described as selecting for its nesting-place a small 

 island, usually in the neighborhood of the sea, sometimes 

 in the interior. " The nest is very large ; at times raised 

 seven or eight inches on the top of a bed of all the dead 

 weeds which the bird can gather in the neighborhood. 

 Properly speaking, the real nest, however, is not larger 

 than that of the Dusky Duck, and is rather neatly formed 

 externally of fibrous roots, and lined round the edges with 

 the down of the bird." There are usually about eleven 

 eggs. These are generally nearly oval in shape, sometimes 

 ovoidal. They are of a pale yellowish-drab color, much 

 darker than those of the Sheldrake. They vary in dimen- 

 sions from 2.63 by 1.82 inch to 2.48 by 1.75 inch. 



MERGUS AMERICANUS. — Cassln. 



The Goosander ; Sheldrake ; Fish Duck. 



Mergus merganser, Wilson. Am. Om., VIII. (1814) 68. Nutt. Man., II. (1834) 

 460. Aud. Orn. Biog., IV. (1838) 261. 75., Birds Am., VI. (1843) 387. 

 Mergus Americanus, Cassin. Pr. A. N. Sc. (1853), 187. 



Description. 



Feathers of the forehead extending on the bill in an acute angle for half the dis- 

 tance between those on the sides and the nostril; outline of those on the sides nearly 

 . vertical, and reaching only a little beyond the beginning of lower edge of bill, but as 

 far as those on the side of lower jaw; nostril large, far forward, its middle opposite 

 the middle of the commissure. 



Male. — Head without conspicuous crest; head and neck green ; forepart of back 

 black; beneath salmon-color; wings mostly white, crossed by one band of black: 

 «ides scarcely barred transversely ; iris carmine. 



