THE GOOSANDEK. 171 



in Latham. On my representing to Mr. Knox the desirability 

 of procuring a specimen of the bird in question, he endeavoured 

 for a long time to do so, but ineffectually. I have not the least 

 doubt, however, that the bird alluded to is the M. senator, which 

 is indigenous, and regularly breeds about our northern and other 

 lakes, at some of which it is called scale-duck, as already men- 

 tioned. 



Audubon gives a very complete description of the habits of 

 the goosander, from which I shall extract a few sentences. He 

 states : — " I have found fishes in its stomach seven inches i]i 

 length, and of smaller kinds, so many as to weigh more than 

 half a pound. Digestion takes place witli great rapidity, inso- 

 much that some which I fed in captivity devoured more than two 

 dozen of fishes about four inches in length, four times daily, and 

 yet always seemed to be desirous of more :" — the rapidity of 

 digestion in the specimens which came under my own examina- 

 tion was most striking, as it likewise was in the case of the red- 

 breasted mergansers. The same author remarks : — " The fiight 

 of the goosander is powerful, and as rapid and sustained as that 

 of the red-breasted and hooded mergansers. When fairly under 

 weigh and at a good height, they advance in an almost direct 

 course, and proceed with surprising velocity, so that when sud- 

 denly apprised of the vicinity of man, they at times find it diffi- 

 cult to check their speed so quickly as may be necessary for their 

 safety. I well remember that on several occasions having watched 

 one of these birds flying directly up a creek, and towards me, I 

 have taken aim at it and fired when it was at the proper distance, 

 and yet, such had been its velocity, that it would advance after 

 being shot many yards towards me.''^ — ' Orn. Biog.^ vol. iv. p. 262. 



The goosander is apparently less common in Ireland than in 

 Scotland, but is perhaps as frequent as in England. 



