CLV. 



MERGUS MERGANSER. (Linn.) 

 Goosander. 



The egg of this species has been added to our collections, 

 by the zeal of Mr, Proctor, the Curator of the Durham mu- 

 seum, who visited Iceland during the last spring, and pene- 

 trated alone to some of the most remote and least inhabited 

 districts, enduring much hardship and privation, in the 

 hope of adding to our Ornithological knowledge. In this he 

 was fortunately, to a certain extent, successful ; having pro- 

 cured a whole brood of the Iceland Falcon, together with 

 eggs of the Little Auk, and several rare species of Ducks. 

 The nests of the Goosander were placed amongst the loose 

 stones and shingle, upon the borders of the fresh water lochs, 

 and were formed of the down of the female bird. The eggs 

 are from eight to twelve in number. 



We had hoped during our visits to Norway, to have ob- 

 tained the eggs of this species ; especially when we frequently 

 saw the birds, and sometimes in considerable flocks, around 

 the shores of the beautiful inlets of the sea, and the numerous 

 islands which we visited. These flocks were, with one or two 

 exceptions only, composed of male birds; the partners of 

 which we expected to find sitting their eggs, upon the neigh- 

 bouring woody shores. We were, however, altogether unsuc- 

 cessful in our search, although we closely explored many 

 places similar to those in which we had found the eggs of the 

 Red-breasted Merganser. 



From the natives we could obtain no satisfactory informa- 

 tion. They had never found the nest or eggs ; but were con- 

 vinced that the females were occupied in incubation in the 

 country ; and assured us that the males would be joined by 

 them and their broods, towards the close of the breeding 

 season. 



