Mergans er amer icanus . 
Concord, Mass. 
1896. Through a strong glass I watched a pair of Goosanders on 
Apr. 6. the river. They spent mo s t of the time preening their feath- 
ers, turning well over on their sides, the old drake showing 
the rich salmon of his lower parts while thus engaged. Occa- 
sionally one or the other would stretch up his neck and point- 
ing his hill nearly straight up open and shut the mandibles as 
if tasting something. Loons and Grebes frequently do the same 
thing. These Goosanders reminded me of Loons in other re- 
spects. They have nearly the same way of carrying the head 
and neck while swimming and the same bold, alert expression. 
The drake was a superb cerature . When he flew I could see 
the coral red legs and feet stretched out behind under the 
tail . 
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