32 
BIRDS OF PENNSYLVANIA. 
ago in the history of Lancaster county, Pa., the Goosander, also the 
Red-breasted and Hooded Mergansers are all mentioned as breeding in 
Lancaster county. According to Mr. E. A. Samuels (Our Northern and 
Eastern Birds) this species “ is one of the most abundant summer resi¬ 
dents in the lake region of northern Maine.” Dr. Walter Yan Fleet, of 
Renovo, Pa., says this Merganser breeds in Clinton county. Prof. Au¬ 
gust Koch, of Williamsport, Pa., in a letter addressed to me dated June 
26, 1889, writes as follows: “ The Hooded and American Mergansers 
are regular breeders (in Lycoming county); have taken the young of 
both before they were able to fly.” From all the information I can i 
obtain the Goosander has not been known to breed for many years past 
anywhere in Pennsylvania other than the counties of Clinton and Ly¬ 
coming, and in both of these localities Dr. Yan Fleet and Prof. Koch 
have observed the species to be a rare summer resident, but common in 
the spring and fall and of frequent occurrence in the winter when the 
streams are not frozen over. I have never had the good fortune to find 
a nest of this species, but according to different writers it usually builds 
its nest of leaves, grasses, moss, feathers and down, in hollow trees ; 
“eggs 6—8, elliptical, buff-colored, 2.75 x 2.”— Goues. 
This species, like all other of our “ wild ducks,” is exceedingly shy 
and difficult to approach. According to Audubon, “ the food of the 
Goosander consists chiefly of fish, but also of bivalve shells, snails, 
leeches, aquatic lizards, crays and frogs. Its voracity is great, so that 
it consumes an extraordinary quantity of fish. I have found fishes in 
its stomach seven inches in length, and of smaller kinds, so many as to 
weigh more than half a pound. Digestion takes place with great 
rapidity, insomuch that some which I have had in captivity devoured 
more than two dozen of fishes about four inches in length, four times 
daily, and yet always seemed to be desirous of more.” 
The stomachs of nine of these Mergansers, which I have examined, 
contained only the remains of fish. 
Merganser serrator (Linn.). 
Red-breasted Merganser ; Fish duck. 
Description. 
Nostrils narrow and situated near base of bill; bill longer than head; frontal 
feathers do not extend beyond those on side of bill; both sexes have long and 
pointed occipital crests. Legs and bill are red, brighter in male than female ; iris 
carmine. 
Male. —Head and upper part of neck front and back dark-green ; white ring about 
lower part of neck; jugulum brownish-red, with black and dusky streaks; back 
black ; under parts yellowish-white ; wings crossed by two black bars. 
Female. —Head grayish reddish-brown; upper parts grayish lead color; throat 
and under parts yellowish-white and sides grayish. Length about 24 inches ; extent 
about 32 inches. 
Habitat.— Northern portion of Northern Hemisphere ; south in winter through¬ 
out the United States. 
