212 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIII. 
well into the air and into full flight. Their mode of starting is very 
similar to that of Cormorants and Divers, but once fairly started their 
flight is then swifter than that of either of these birds. Swimming about 
undisturbed and with no particular object in view, they float with about 
one-third to half their bodies exposed, but they can sink themseives at 
will, and Hume says that, especially when swimming against stream, 
they sink very deep, as do Cormorants, and that when wounded and 
pursued they never show more than their heads and necks out of 
water. 
As a rule, all over their wide habitat, it is more common to meet 
the Goosander in quite small flocks of a dozen or so, or varying from 
half a dozen to a couple of dozen, whilst single birds and pairs are 
often seen. Sometimes, however, they go in far larger flocks. Cripps 
writes: ‘‘ In the Western Dooars I have seen numbers of the species 
in flocks of from 50 to 200.’ One or two other authors have noted 
large flocks, but, except Cripps, all Indian observers seem to concur in 
considering very small flocks to be the rule in India. On the Irrawaddy 
Oates speaks of meeting them in small parties numbering six or fewer 
individuals. A note sent me by Mr, S—— ofthe Civil Service from 
Darbhanga mentions only seeing comparatively small flocks. 
The food of-the Goosander is as purely an animal diet as that of any 
duck in existence, and the greater portion of it consists of fish, in 
the diving after which it is wonderfully expert. Very often flocks 
work in concert in their fishing ; sometimes they will gradualiy work 
the fish into some narrow inlet, and when driven into it almost exter-— 
minate a shoal before the surviving members of it break through the 
living cordon of greedy birds and make good their escape. 
Ball says: ‘‘ In the Subanrika they may be seen in parties swimming 
against the stream, and all diving together apparently to catch fish. 
The sudden disappearance of the whole flock at the same moment gives 
the idea that they work in concert in hunting the fish which are 
coming down with the stream, Their flight is very rapid.” 
They are most voracious birds and do a great deal of damage in fish- 
ing rivers. Mr. E. T. Booth in “ Rough Notes ” writes: “ Goosanders 
are blest with strong, healthy appetites . . . . . When wounded 
or alar ned, I have occasionally remarked that an immense quantity of 
fish was thrownup. Aftera shot . . . . . atanumber of these 
