Gentjs XCVI. MERGUS. MERGANSER. 



Species I. M. MERGANSER. 



GOOSANDER. 



[Plato LXVIII. Fig. 1, Male.] 



L'Harle, Briss. vi., p. 23], 1, pi. 22.— Buff, tiii., p. 267, pi. 2Z.—Arct. Zool. No. 

 465. — Lath. Syn. iii.,"p. 418.* 



This large and handsomely marked bird belongs to a genus diiFerent 

 from that of the Buck, on account of the particular form and serratures 

 of its bill. The genus is characterized as follows : " Bill toothed, 

 slender, cylindrical, hooked at the point ; nostrils small, oval, placed in 

 the middle of the bill ; feet four toed, the outer toe longest." Natu- 

 ralists have denominated it Merganser. In this country the birds com- 

 posing this genus are generally known by the name of Fishermen,, or 

 Fisher ducks. The whole number of known species amount to only 

 nine or ten, dispersed through various quarters of the world ; of these, 

 four species, of which the present is the largest, are known to inhabit 

 the United States. 



From the common habit of these birds in feeding almost entirely on 

 fin and shell fish, their flesh is held in little estimation, being often lean 

 and rancid, both smelling and tasting strongly of fish; but such are 

 the various peculiarities of tastes, that persons are not wanting who 

 pretend to consider them capital meat. 



The Goosander, called by some the Water I^easant, and by others 

 the Sheldrake, Fisherman, Diver, &c., is a winter inhabitant only, of 

 the seashores, fresh-water lakes, and rivers of the United States. They 

 usually associate in small parties of six or eight, and are almost con- 

 tinually diving in search of food. In the month of April they disap- 

 pear, and return again early in November. Of their particular place 

 and manner of breeding we have no account. Mr. Pennant observes 

 that they continue the whole year in the Orkneys ; and have been shot 

 in the Hebrides, or Western Islands of Scotland, in summer. They are 

 also found in Iceland, and Greenland, and are said to breed there; 



* Mergus Merganser, GaEr,. Syst. i., p. 544, No. 2.— Lath. Ind. Orn. p. 828, No. 

 1. — Le Harle, Buff. PI. Enl. 951, male. — Grand Hark, Temm. Man. d' Orn. p. 881. 



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