Birds of Britain 

 THE SURF SCOTER 



CEdemia perspicillata (Linnaeus) 



This North American species has on several occasions 

 occurred on our coasts. 



The male may be at once distinguished from the other 

 Scoters by the presence of a broad patch of white on the 

 forehead and another on the nape. In the female the nape 

 patch is present though often indistinct. There is no white 

 bar across the wing. Length 21 in.; wing 9'5 in. 



THE GOOSANDER 



Mergus merganser, Linnaeus 



The Goosander is the first of the three species of " Saw- 

 bills " that are found in this country. Unlike other Ducks, 

 the bill is moderately long and narrow, and both mandibles 

 have a very rough toothed surface enabling them easily to 

 secure and hold their prey, which consists entirely of fish. 

 They are all expert divers. On the east coast of England 

 this species is not uncommon during the winter months, 

 frequenting estuaries and freshwater lakes, but in the south 

 and west it is of irregular occurrence. In Scotland it is 

 known to nest in a few localities, but on the west coast and 

 in Ireland it is decidedly rare. The nest is placed down a 

 hole among rocks, or in a tree, and in Sweden and Lapland 



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