124 LAMELLIROSTIIAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



the small creeks, and was especially abundant during the season of its migrations. Two 

 exam])les were taken in Sei)tember, 1862, near Fort Eesolution by Mr. J. Lockhart. 



The eggs of this species are of a pure ivory-white, stained occasionally with a 

 neutral tint, and are of a rounded oval, almost globnlar, form. They measure 2.05 

 inches by 1.70 (Smithsonian Institution, No. 15,560 ; Ricksecker, Iowa) ; 2.15 inches 

 by 1.75 (No. 8745; Samuels, Maine) ; 2.05 inches by 1.75 (No. 9785 ; Boardman, New 

 Brunswick). 



Note. — Tlie Smew (Mergellus albcllus) has been attributed to North America by Wilson, 

 Audubon, and Nuttall, but apparently upon erroneous data. In view, however, of the possi- 

 bility of its occurrence in this country, it may not be amiss to give here the characters of the 

 genus and species, with the prmcipal synonymatic references : — 



Genus MERGELLUS, Selby. 



Mergellus, "Selby, 1840," Gray (type, 3fergus alhellus, Linn.). 



Char. The peculiarities of the genus Mergellus consist in the very short bill (the culinen being 

 shorter than the tarsus), which has the serrations nuich like those of Lophodijtes, oidy finer and 

 more numerous ; the bill is very deep through the base, its greatest depth being equal to about 

 half the length of the culmen ; the nostril very large, broadly oval, and situated near the middle of 

 the maxilla. The tarsus is about two thirds as long as the middle toe, with claw. The coloration 

 and crest remind one strongly of Lophoihjtes ; but the latter is smaller and less compressed, while 

 there is much more white m the plumage. 



Mergellus albellus. 



THE SMEW. 



Mergus albellus, Linn. S. N. ed. 10, L 1758, 120 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 209. — AVils. Am. Orn. VIII, 

 1814, 126, pi. 69. — BoNAP. Obs. Wils. 1825, 250. — Nuttall, Man. II. 1834, 467. —Aud. 

 Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 350, pi. 347 ( 9 fig'd from specimen said to have been obtained at New 

 Orleans ; $, from a European skin) ; Synop. 1839 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 408, pi. 414. 



Mergellus albellus, Selby, Brit. Orn. 1840. — Baikd, B. K. Am. 1858, 817 ; Cat. N.Am. B. 1859, 

 no. 614. 



Mergus minutus, Linn. S. N. ed. 12, I. 1758, 129 ; ed. 12, I. 1766, 209 (= young). 



Mergus albuhcs and. 2Mnnonic2is, Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. 1769, 71, 72. 



Mergus glacialis, Bkunn. Orn. Bor. 1764, 24. 



Hab. Palaearctic Region ; accidental in Eastern North America (" New Orleans ; " Audubon) ? 



Adult male : Prevailing color pure white. A patch covering the lores, and narrowly surround- 

 ing the eyes, deep black, with a greenish reflection ; under portion of the crest glossy greenish 

 black ; back, rump, anterior and inner lesser wing-coverts, greater coverts, secondaries, two narrow 

 bars across the side of the jugulum and breast (the posterior one strongly curved, in crescent form), 

 deep black ; upper tail-coverts and tail, ash-gray ; tertials silvery gray ; primaries blackish dusky ; 

 sides and flanks finely undulated with dark grayish. Bill and feet dusky (in skin), plumlieous 

 in life ; iris deep red. Wing, about 7.75 inches ; culmen, 1.10 ;. tarsus, 1.30 ; middle toe, 1.90. 

 Adult female : Upper part of the head, including whole lores, reddish brown ; rest of head, with 

 neck (except nape), breast, abdomen, and crissum, pure white ; upper parts generally, sides, and 

 flanks, cinereous, darker on the back ; wings much as in the male ; jugulum tinged with pale 

 cinereous. Size a little smaller than the male. 



This species — known in Great Britain as the Smew, and as the Harle Piette in 

 France — has small claim to a place in the fauna of North America. The only 

 instance on record, so far as I am aware, of its occurrence, is the claim of Audubon 

 to have obtained a single specimen, and that a female, on Lake Barataria, near New 

 Orleans, in 1817. Wilson, indeed, speaks of it as being common on the coast of New 



