MERGANSER CASTOR. 273 



with muddy bottoms. From what observers have noted, the Groosander 

 likes, rather than dislikes, a rough current, and in the same way they do 

 not appear to be at all troubled by a rough sea ; thus Dresser iiotes 

 meeting a flock in the sea near Guernsey, which was in water rough 

 enough to make the steamer he was in dip its paddle-boxes alternately 

 into the water. 



Lakes and still water are not frequented when clear running rivers are 

 adjacent, but sometimes the Groosander may be found on such^ though in 

 these cases the water will invariably be found to be free of much vegetation 

 and fairly clean and clear. / 



At the same time on the Subansiri, Dehing, and Dibong I nearly 

 always found them in the backwaters and dead pools cut off from the 

 river. When in the actual rivers themselves they were generally in deep 

 still pools, but I have sometimes seen them in very strong rapids, where 

 they seemed to enjoy themselves immensely; and it is quite at home in the 

 rough tumbling hill-streams which it frequents in its summer home, and 

 will there be found swimming and diving at its ease with or against the 

 roughest and quickest rapids^ as well as sometimes floating idly in some 

 deep pool. 



In such places as these the Goosander may occasionally be surprised, 

 the well-wooded banks allowing a near approach and screening the stalker 

 until he actually arrives on the edge of the bank itself. As a rule, 

 however, the Goosander is one of the wariest and wildest of birds, and 

 this whether on salt or fresh water. Should he consider that danger is 

 coming too near, his wonderful powers of swimming are at once called 

 into action to place him out of danger; if hard pressed he resorts to 

 diving, at which very few birds can surpass him, though he is said not to 

 equal the Smew in this respect. It is, however, only as a last resource 

 that he takes to wing, for, though once well up and away his flight is said 

 to be strong and comparatively swift, he takes long to rise off tlie water 

 and a long time to get properly under way. In India, as a matter of 

 fact, I consider that the flight of the Merganser, unless he is frightened, 

 is decidedly not swift, though when shot at ho can get up a fair pace. 

 They rise very obliquely, spattering along the top of the water some yards 

 before clearing it, and even then going some further distance before 

 mounting 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 eith(n- of these birds, although, 

 as already noted, unless actually frightened it is by no means quick. 



