GOOSANDER
rtWwtwr uf only ii few yards, right M trn immature blidl diving fur food in the shallow s among some large
•tones. Alias! the party appeared satisfied and paddled slowly to somi' ledge* of rock, apparently with the
intention »f landing-, n lien, uttering a good ohonoe, live were stop]ied with the two barrels. Tlic ipiantity of
trout, all perfectly fresh, that wen shaken from their throats would have more than half filled a moderately
sized fish-rreel.
WbeB unmolested this species is liy no means shy; ia many of the Highland glens 1 have seen them
resting on the stones by the river-side, Within a short distance of the road, paying little or no attention to the
traffic. The most Litter disregard of danger, however, that I ever witnessed was shown by a pair, a handsome
male and female, that frequented the shores of the Ucauly Eirlh between U la chna hurry and Huuchrcw, early
in 1878. On several occasions, at high water, they fed among the weed grown rocks, scarcely raising their
heads w hen approached within fifty or sixty yards.
During the winters I passed on the Norfolk broads, hut few adult males came under my observation, Ihe
last specimen seen ill these parts being an exceedingly brightly coloured bird re-orling to the waters near
11 ickling for several days from the 30th of January, 18S2. It is seldom that adult males arc seen in this
locality unless frosl has set in; on this occasion, however, Ihe weather was open, thick fogs with rain aud mist
lull big prevailed for over a week, the wind varying from south to east. The young birds in immature plumage
are far from scarce during mosl n inters, lieiug decidedly more abundant on the lurao 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 arc exposed. Five and twenty years ago, at
Pngham aud more lately at Rye and Shoreham, I met with this species; they are, however, less plentiful almtit
the Sussex harbours than on the cast coast.
The males of this species do not assume the fully adull dress their lirst winter; several young drakes that
1 obtained, and carefully examined, exhibited but little dill'erenec in colouring, A specimen in my possession,
shot in the west of Perthshire in Decemlier lSfJG, may be regarded as being in Hie usual plumage
shown during the tirst or second winter; this specimen is figured on Hate I I . as n male in the plumage of
the first w inter ; then' is, however, a [luaafldUtj that it may lie a year older. A casual observer would doubtless
pronounce Ihe bird a female, though after a close inspection it will be seen that the rulma lint on the head is
-lL-hlly ihoker, the crest is wanting, aud the small white patch below the under mandible is somewhat
smaller. This rufous tint on the head and neck also terminates with an edging of dark green thai encircles
the throat, and is wanting in the female. The salmon tint on the breast and belly is also slightly deeper
as well as more extended, less of the clouded grey markings showing round tin? upper part of the breast aud
along the ilanks. I can offer no opinion as to the age at which the drakes of ibis spieies assume the perfect
mature plumage ; Diana the birds are reared in confinement, and every change carefully noted, there appears
no chance of ascertaining the various stages through which 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, word for word, as received,
leaving my readers to form their own opinion.
While driving, through a wild and desolate Highland glen, in the summer of IH77, I bad halt.il for a time
to explore the country aud make a few casts for the small red trout swarming in the pools and shallows of a
rocky burn that dashed alongside the rough lull-track, when heavy clouds gathering to the west gave warning
uf an approaching storm. The mountain-tops were already lost in the driving mist, and Ihe raindrops had
commenced to fad, when at a luru in the nail a bothy, erected for the accommodation or the stalkers and
foresters, came in view. Regretting that at this season the shanty would, in all probability, he closed,
1, however, pushed ou, and nas agreeably surpris, d to find on the spot a keeper, who, while crossing the hill on
other business, bad looked in to ascertain thai all was secure. The man proved an old acquainlnnee; and
GOOSANDER.
Inning placed Ihe pony and trap in the best shelter available, we made our way indoors to await the abatemenl
of a succession of blinding stpialls of sleet and rain now sweeping up the glen. Uncertainty always existing as
to where a hall is likely to he made whim I ravelling through unfrequented districts, my COM BJ anee, as usual,
contained an ample supply- of creature comforts, and the delay caused by the continuation of the storm was
but little heeded. Having thoroughly discussed the pros| Is of the coming season, | happened to inquire if
Goosanders were ever seen in this part of the glen ; while passing along the buruside, a short distance below
the hot by, my attention had been attracted by leal hers, evident ly FRUNI I hi' wing of this species, pari ially trodden
Into the Soil, and this had led to the question, tin several occasions during the many years passed by my
informant in this district, I learned that he had observed the female with her brood working down the burn
towards the large lochs in the vicinity of the river. After describing an amusing scene that occurred some
years back, when the gillies in attendance on a fishing-party, at the request of the sportsmen, had made vain
and ludicrous attempts to secure one or two specimens from a brood surprised in a rocky portion of Ihe burn,
he concluded by staling thai the previous spring an old female had been captured in Ihe adjoining room to that
in which we sat. Having made further inquiries, and carefully examined 1 hi- premise-;, I ascertained that
the facts of the case were as follows ; - The bothy consisted of two rooms, the larger of w hicb was Used as the
kitchen, and contained among other articles a large wooden meal-chest. At the cad of the season previous lo
the last, when Ihe building was locked up for the winter, this chest still held a quantity of meal, and on
entering the kitchen and unbolting the shutters the following year it was discovered that a rat had gnawed a
bole through the wood (round as if cut with an auger) in order to reach the meal. Again, as usual at the
conclusion of the shooting-season, the bothy was shut up for the winter, ami a second time a quantity of meal
remained in the chest. In order to put a stop to the depredations of rats, an ordinary spring trap was placed
near Ihe old hole (now stopped by a large bung of cork), aud iu this a female Goosander was lying dead when
the room was opened in the spring. Ia no other manner could the bird have effected an entrance unless by
means of Ihe chimney ; Ihe upper part, originally const rue ted of rough-hew u timber, now charred and weatherbeaten,
somewhat resembled the cavity in an old and rotten stump. It can only be supposed that the female,
while searching for nesting-quarters, by some strange mishap made her way into the chimney, and having
Buttered downwards to the kitchen, had Happed round the room in her fruitless efforts to escape, till taken in
the trap.
A few words with reference to the ITatcs may prove of service :—
Tlate I. Female with brood about seven weeks old. The specimens from which the figures are taken were
obtained in ihe Highlands in July 1878.
Elate I I . Adult male, shot in the north of Scotland in March 1878; alsu a male iu the plumage of the
first or second winter, obtained iu the west of Perthshire in December 18GG.