GOOSANDER. 
439 
NA TA TORES. 
AN AT ID jE. 
GOOSANDER. 
MERG US MERGANSER. 
PLATE CXIX. FIG. III. 
Mr. Macgillivray says that this species is not un¬ 
common on the Western Isles of Scotland, and that it 
breeds there; and Mr. Low states, that in his time 
the Goosander remained to breed on one of the Orkney 
Islands. The eggs of this species were first added to 
our collections by the perseverance of Mr. Proctor of 
Durham, who found them during his visit to Iceland, 
where he traversed alone some of the least inhabited 
districts, enduring much hardship and privation, cheered 
by the hope of adding to our ornithological knowledge. 
The nests of this species, which Mr. Proctor found, were 
upon small islands in the fresh-water lochs near the 
sea-coast. They were composed of very few materials— 
a small quantity of dry grass, lined with down and fea¬ 
thers—and contained from four to six eggs, which nearly 
resemble those of the red-breasted merganser, but are 
larger, and usually of a lighter colour. 
Mr. Audubon thus writes of this species : “ The islands 
on which the Goosander is wont to breed are mostly 
small, as if selected for the purpose of allowing the 
sitting bird to get soon to the water in case of danger. 
The nest is very large, at times raised seven or eight 
