GOOSANDER 



MERGUS MERGANSER, Linn. 



Mergus merganser, Linn. S. N. i. p. 208 (1766) ; Naum. xii. 



p. 356 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 439 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 488 ; 



Dresser, vi. p. 685. 

 Meganser castor, Macg. v. p. 207. 



Grand Harle, French ; Grosser Suffer, German ; Bech de 

 Serra gran, Valencia. 



This is a species with which I have only a winter, 

 and, generally speaking, distant acquaintance in a wild 

 state, though I have been fortunate enough to keep a 

 few pinioned Goosanders through two moults upon our 

 ponds at Lilford. Although of late years this beautiful 

 bird has been found breeding in various parts of the 

 Scottish Highlands, it is best known as a winter visitor 

 in England, and, in my experience, is of much more 

 frequent occurrence on inland waters than its close con- 

 gener the Red-breasted or Common Merganser, though 

 the latter is by far the more abundant species of the two 

 in the British Islands. 



The Goosander is a wary bird, at least during its 

 winter visits to the waters with which I am best 

 acquainted, but does not seem to me to be up to so 



