4 
GOOSANDER. 
distance of only a few yards, eight or ten immature birds diving for food in the shallows among some large 
stones. At last the party appcai’ed satisfied and paddled slowly to some ledges of rock, apparently with the 
intention of landing, when, offering a good ehance, five were stopped with the two barrels. The quantity of 
trout, all perfectly fresh, that were shaken from their throats would have more than half filled a moderately 
sized fish-creel. 
AVhen unmolested this species is by no means shy ; in many of the Uighland glens I have seen them 
restin" on the stones by the river-side, ivithin a short distance of the road, paying little or no attention to the 
traffic. The most utter disregard of danger, however, that I ever witnessed was shown by a pair, a handsome 
male and female, that frequented the shores of the Beauly Firth between Claehnaharry and Bunchrew, early 
in 1878. On several occasions, at high water, they fed among the weed-grown rocks, scarcely raising their 
heads when approached ivithin fifty or sixty yards. 
During the winters I passed on the Norfolk broads, hut few' adult males came under my observation, the 
last specimen seen in these parts being an exceedingly brightly coloured bird resorting to the waters near 
llickling for several days from the 30th of January, 1882. It is seldom that adult males are seen in this 
locality unless frost has set in ; on this occasion, however, the w eathcr was open, thick fogs w'itli rain and mist 
having prevailed for over a week, the wind varying from south to east. The young birds in immature plumage 
are far from scarce during most w inters, being decidedly more abundant on the large pieces of fresh water than 
Mergansers. In this part of the country, and indeed all over England, these birds are soon rendered wild and 
almost unapproachable by the constant persecution to which they are exposed. Five and twenty years ago, at 
Pagham and more lately at Rye and Shoreham, I met with this species ; they are, however, less plentiful about 
the Sussex harbours than on the east coast. 
The males of this species do not assume the fully adult dress their first winter ; several young drakes that 
I obtained, and carefully examined, exhibited but little dilference in colouring. A specimen in my possession, 
shot in the west of Perthshire in I)eceml)cr 18GG, may be regarded as being in the usual plumage 
shown during the first or second winter; this specimen is figured on Plate II. as a male in the plumage of 
the first winter ; there is, however, a possibility that it may be a year older. A casual observer would doubtless 
pronounce the bird a female, though after a close inspection it will be seen that the rufous tint on the head is 
slightly darker, the crest is wanting, and the small Avhite patch below' the under mandible is somewhat 
sinaller. This rufous tint on the head and neck also terminates with an edging of dark green that encircles 
the throat, and is w'anting in the female. The salmon tint on the breast and belly is also slightly deeper 
as w'ell as more extended, less of the clouded grey markings showing round the upper part of the breast and 
alou" the flanks. I can offer no opinion as to the age at w hich the drakes of this species assume the jierfect 
mature plumage ; imlcss the birds are reared in confinement, and every change carefully noted, there appears 
no chance of ascertaining the various stages through w hich they pass. 
The capture of the female Goosander in the manner described in the following account may appear 
improbable ; I, however, merely give the statements concerning the occurrence, w ord for w'ord, as received, 
leaving my readers to form their ow n opinion. 
AVhile driving through a wild and desolate Highland glen, in the summer of 1877, I had halted for a time 
to explore the country and make a few casts for the small red trout swarming in the pools and shallows of a 
rocky burn that dashed alongside the rough hill-track, when heavy clouds gathering to the west gave wariiiug 
of an approaching storm. The mountain-tops were already lost in the driving mist, and the raindrops had 
commenced to fall, when at a turn in the road a bothy, erected for the accommodation of the stalkers and 
foresters, came in view'. Regretting that at this season the shanty would, in all probability, be closed, 
I, bowever, pushed on, and was agreeably surprised to find on the spot a keeper, who, while crossing the hill on 
other business, had looked in to ascertain that all was secure. The man proved an old acquaintance ; and 
