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seen in the north than in the southern counties. But there is no doubt that it does occasionally 

 remain to breed in Scotland ; for Mr. Harvie-Brown has had a nest of eggs sent to him from the 

 north of Perthshire, and from an examination of one of these eggs and some down I have no 

 doubt that they really were Goosander's. The eggs were taken late in May 1871; and the nest 

 was placed in the hollow of a tree. Macgillivray also says that it breeds in the Outer Hebrides, 

 close to the larger lakes, and occasionally by the sea. 



In the southern counties it is met with in hard winters, and is an occasional visitant to all 

 parts where there are suitable localities. Mr. Cecil Smith informs me that in Somersetshire it is 

 " an occasional autumn and winter visitant, both on the coast and inland. I think it is rather 

 the more common of the two ; I have certainly seen more specimens of full-plumaged males. 

 In South Devon also it appears much the more common of the two, especially about the mouth 

 of the Exe, where considerable flocks may be seen, either on the wing or busily engaged in 

 diving for food. The whole flock, however, never seem to be down together ; so there is no chance 

 of stealing a march on them by trying to sail or row up close whilst they are diving ; conse- 

 quently, as they are rather wary birds, it is no easy matter to get a shot at them on the open sea 

 or river. In Guernsey, I think, they seem to make their appearance in about the same numbers 

 as the Red-crested Mergansers. In spite of the strong tides and rough sea, they seem to keep 

 the open water in all weathers; for in November 1871, as I was returning from Guernsey to 

 Southampton in the steamer, I saw a flock of Goosanders on the water who did not seem the 

 least discomposed by a very heavy breaking sea which was running at the time, and which made 

 the steamer dip first one paddle-box and then the other in the white water ; the Goosanders, 

 however, seemed perfectly at home, and rose and flew off for a short distance as the steamer 

 came near them." I have seen it off the coast of Sussex ; and examples are now and then 

 obtained in Kent, Essex, and Norfolk. Mr. Cordeaux mentions that it not unfrequently occurs 

 near Beverley, in Yorkshire, in the winter, visiting the river Hull in small flocks, but is more 

 common in some seasons than in others, and is especially numerous in very severe winters. In 

 Scotland it is stated by Mr. Robert Gray to be more numerous than M. serrator in the western 

 counties during winter ; and he says that flocks of ten or twelve are sometimes seen together on 

 streams within a few miles of Glasgow. In some of the west-coast lochs, and in one or two 

 districts of Perthshire, it lingers until April and then disappears. Dr. Dewar found it breeding 

 in North Uist in 1858. Dr. Saxby states (B. of Shetl. Isl. p. 271) that it is well known in 

 Orkney, where it is a regular winter visitant, but it is very rarely observed in Shetland. 



In Ireland it is an annual winter visitant ; but Thompson says that it occurs in very limited 

 numbers, and is chiefly seen on freshwater ponds or streams. It is not known to have occurred 

 in Greenland; but in Iceland it is tolerably common, and many remain during the winter, 

 collecting in large flocks on the small fjords and warm springs. It breeds most commonly in 

 Northern Iceland, usually on the banks of the rivers. In the Faeroes it is rare, and Mr. H. C. 

 Muller only records one instance of its occurrence, in March 1854 ; but Mr. Benzon informs me 

 that he possesses an egg taken in the Faeroes in April 1858. It is a common bird in Scandinavia ; 

 and Mr. Robert Collett states that in Norway it occurs most frequently in the lakes and rivers in 

 the southern and south-eastern districts, and in the fell-valleys of Christiania it is commoner 



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