131 



GOOSANDER.* 



MERGUS MERGANSER. 

 [Plate LX VIII.— Fig. 1.] 



TuRT. Sijst, I, J}. 334 Bewick, II, p. 228 — Penn. Br, Zool. II, p. 4*69, Xo. 260* 



ON the twenty-ninth of January, of the present year, the 

 editor procured a fine full plumaged specimen of the male Goos- 

 ander, which was shot in the Delaware below Philadelphia; it 

 was in good condition, and weighed three pounds thirteen ounces 

 avoirdupois. This bird was examined with accuracy; and as we 

 are not satisfied with the description accompanying the history of 

 this species in the eighth volume of the present work, we have 

 resolved upon giving another, chiefly for the gratification of those 

 naturalists of Europe who may feel disposed to compare our Goos- 

 ander with theirs. Mr. Wilson must have certainly described 

 from a bad specimen ; and, as will hereafter appear, it had been 

 some time killed. As the figure was colored from a wretched 

 stuffed subject, we regret to say that it gives but an imperfect idea 

 of this elegant bird, which perhaps is second to none of our web- 

 footed tribes in beauty, if we except that universal favorite, the 

 Wood Duck. 



The Goosander is a broad, long-bodied and flat -backed bird. 

 It is a great diver, and remains under water for a considerable 

 time. It is likewise very shy and hard to be obtained, unless 

 there is ice in the river, at which time it may be approached in 

 disguise, the gunner and his boat being clothed in white, so as to 

 resemble floating ice. It appears to live entirely on fish, which 



\ 



^ See vol. viii, p. 68. 



