The Goosander 
93 
great local reputation as a naturalist in Inverness-shire, and who actually lived in the 
very midst of breeding Goosanders, assured me, after repeated failures even to see a male 
in eclipse, that I was wrong, and that the bird never assumed any other plumage but that 
of the spring-winter one. It was not, in fact, until the autumn of 1910 that I obtained the 
loan of specimens in the eclipse dress from my friend Mr. Schioler. 
Various naturalists have told us that in its northern breeding places Goosanders will 
frequent swamps and quite small ponds, but these are generally situated in the vicinity 
of the larger fresh-water lakes. Generally the Goosander likes rivers and lakes whose 
banks are everywhere overgrown with forest or bushes, and at all times prefers clear water. 
In Newfoundland they seem to like the lakes quite as much as the rivers. 
When standing or walking both males and females assume the horizontal position 
adopted by all diving ducks. They do not sit up like Cormorants, as figured in Dresser's 
Birds of Europe and many other standard works. The head and neck are held in a full 
S-shaped bend, the angle at the back of the neck being very sharp. This is very well 
shown in Mr. Thorburn's figures, which are drawn from life. The walk is very heavy 
and rolling, and the feet are placed on the ground deliberately, whilst the bill is pointed 
downwards, and each step taken as if the bird was afraid of tripping or falling. They 
seldom go more than a yard or two from the water's edge, but can run quite swiftly for a 
few yards if suddenly surprised. In winter it is a very rare event to see Goosanders 
ashore, but in spring they often leave the water, and will spend hours sleeping and preening 
on some small island or point of land. No birds are more industrious in their toilet 
than the Mergansers in spring, and most of their time, when not feeding, flying, or sleeping, 
is spent in polishing up their plumage and bathing. 
Goosanders are fully as skilled in swimming and diving as the other members of this 
genus ; in fact, I think they can both swim faster and cover greater distances under water 
than the Red-breasted Merganser. Individuals often remain over two minutes under 
the water, during which time they are darting here and there, or pursuing a forward course. 
I think they also probe much with the bill amongst the stones in very shallow water, so as 
to start small trout from their hiding ; and are so quick and accurate in pursuit that they 
seldom miss their prey, even when swimming at high speed. I have watched Goosanders 
diving in holes in the ice when the Tay has been nearly frozen over, and in this case the 
birds always came up at the same spot where they went down, and did not pass under the 
ice to other holes that were open. 
The usual method of fishing is for the bird to dive in water from 2 to 15 feet deep and 
proceed 40 or 50 yards upstream before it again comes to the surface. These long dives are, 
I think, more or less for the purpose of finding the fish — which in most rivers are gre- 
garious and confined to certain pools. When once a spot is discovered where trout or par 
are numerous, the Goosander only takes short quick dives, appearing at frequent intervals, 
until hunger is satiated. The bird will then often remain for a long time in one spot, just 
keeping up sufficient movement with its feet to stem the current until food is digested. 
Goosanders are birds with great appetites, and the amount of small fish they destroy in 
the Highland rivers and lochs is enormous ; and it is a curious fact that so little notice is 
taken of their presence by piscatorial societies. They do not take fish of any size, 
seldom greater than a finger's length ; but they devour such vast quantities that they will 
