238 
MERGUS MERGANSER. 
with, were all males ; and, from the variation in their 
colours, it appears evident, that the young birds undergo 
a considerable change of plumage before they arrive at 
their full colours. In some, the white spot behind the 
eye was large, extending irregularly half way down the 
neck ; in others, confined to a roundish spot. 
The flesh of this species is said to be excellent. 
GENUS LXVI. — MERGUS. 
284 . MERGUS MERGANSER, LINN. AND WILSON. GOOSANDER. 
WILS. PL. LXVIII. FIG. I. MALE. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This large and handsomely marked bird belongs to a 
genus different from that of the duck, on account of the 
particular form and serratures of its bill. The genus 
is characterized as follows : “ Bill, toothed, slender, 
cylindrical, hooked at the point ; nostrils, small, oval, 
placed in the middle of the bill ; feet, four-toed, the 
outer toe longest.” Naturalists have denominated it 
merganser . In this country, the birds composing this 
genus are generally known by the name of fishermen, 
or fisher ducks. The whole number of known species 
amounts to only nine or ten, dispersed through various 
quarters of the world; of these, four species, of which 
the present is the largest, are known to inhabit the 
United States. 
From the common habit of these birds in feeding 
almost entirely on fin and shell fish, their flesh is held 
in little estimation, being often lean and rancid, both 
smelling and tasting strongly of fish ; but such are the 
various peculiarities of tastes, that persons are not 
wanting who pretend to consider them capital meat. 
The goosander, called by some the water pheasant, 
and by others the sheldrake, fisherman, diver, &c. is a 
winter inhabitant only, of the sea shores, fresh water 
lakes, and rivers of the United States. They usually 
associate in small parties of six or eight, and are almost 
continually diving in search of food. In the month of 
April they disappear, and return again early in Novem- 
