GOOSANDER. 483 



GOOS ANDES. {Mergus merganser?) 



PLATE LXVIII.— Fig. 1, Male. 



L'Harle, Briss. vi. p. 231, 1, pi. 23.— Buff. viii. p. 267, pi. 23.— Arct. Zool. 4<o5.— 

 Lath. Syn. iii. p. 418. — Peale's Museum, No. 2932. 



MERGUS MERGANSER.— Linmsus.* 



Goosander, or Merganser, Mont. Ornith. Diet, and Supp. — Bew. Br. Birds, ii. p. 

 254. — Selby's Illust. pi. 57. — Mergus merganser, Bonap. Synop. p. 397. — 

 Flem. Br. Anim. p. 128. — Grande Harle, Temm. Man. d' Ornith. ii. 881. 



This large and handsomely-marked bird belongs to a genus 

 different from that of the duck, on account of the particular 



* The genus Mergus has been, universally allowed. It contains nine or 

 ten species, allied in their general form, but easily distinguished by their 

 plumage. They are truly aquatic, and never quit the sea or lakes ex- 

 cept for a partial repose or pluming, or during the time of incubation. 

 Their food is entirely fish, and they are necessarily expert divers ; the 

 bill is lengthened and narrow, its edges regularly serrated with recurved 

 points. The breeding places of many of them are yet unknown, but I 

 believe that the greater proportion at that season retire inland to the 

 more sequestered lakes. I am also of opinion that the male forsakes his 

 mate so soon as she begins to sit, about which time he also loses the 

 beautiful crest and plumage in which he is clothed during winter and 

 spring, and assumes a duller garb. The males are remarkable for their 

 difference from the other sex, whence the long-disputed point, now 

 satisfactorily proved, of this and the following bird being different. 

 That of the male is generally black or glossy green, contrasted with the 

 purest white or rich shades of tawny yellow ; that of the female, the 

 chaster grays and browns. Both are furnished with crests, composed 

 of loose hackled feathers. 



The distribution of the group 'seems to be European and both con- 

 tinents of America. I have seen none from India or New Holland, 

 though from the former country they might be expected. 



The goosander is a native of both continents, and is said to breed 

 in the northern part of Scotland. This I have had no opportunity of 

 verifying. It is frequent during winter on the larger rivers, in flocks 

 of seven or eight, in which there is generally only one, or at most two, 

 adult males — the others being in immature dress, or females ; thus the 

 latter is said to be the most common. They fish about the bottoms of 

 the streams and pools, and, I believe, destroy many fish. I have taken 



