ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — MERGELLUS. 125 



England, and in the ponds of New England and of New York. But he was misin- 

 formed ; and probably mistook the common Buftie-head for this species. Its occur- 

 rence on any portion of the Atlantic coast, even in Greenland, has not the support 

 of any well-attested evidence. 



This species is exclusively migratory to Great Britain, and is there one of the most 

 common species of its genus, frequenting the rivers and the larger sheets of fresh 

 water, as well as most parts of the coast. The appearance of the adult male is said to 

 be very striking ; but it is the contrast rather than the variety of the colors of its plum- 

 age which makes it so. The immature birds — known as Red-headed Smews — are 

 more common than the adults. The birds of this species are shy and vigilant, feed- 

 ing on small fish, Crustacea, and aquatic insects. These they obtain without difficulty, 

 as they are excellent divers. They move on land awkwardly, owing to the backward 

 position of their legs. They are not known to breed in Great Britain, but leave early 

 in spring for localities farther to the northeast. 



According to Mr. Dann, this bird is very common on the Elbe in winter, and is 

 present in the Stockholm Eiord in November. It is not found on the west coast of 

 Norway, in the Faroe Islands, in Iceland, or in Greenland, and it has not been observed 

 by Arctic explorers in any part of the North American continent. During the Avinter 

 months it is of occasional and irregular occurrence in Holland, Germany, France, and 

 Switzerland, and has been met with even as far south as the Grecian Archipelago. It 

 has also been obtained in Northwestern India and in Japan. The Zoological Society 

 of London has received specimens of this bird from Trebizond. 



Mr. John Woiley (" Ibis," 1859, p. 69) mentions procuring the eggs of this species 

 in Lapland in 1853. It is there known by the name of Ungilo. It was said by the 

 natives to breed in the cavities of trees, and also in nest-boxes prepared for its use. 

 Although smaller than the Golden-eyed Duck, it is said to be able to turn that bird 

 out of its hole, if desirous of taking possession. A nest of this bird was found by a 

 native in an old hollow beech-tree, which, though greatly decayed, was still standing. 

 It contained seven eggs in all. The female Smew was taken on the nest. The eggs 

 were hardly distinguishable from those of the common European Widgeon (Mareca 

 penelope), and were about the same size as the eggs of that bird, though rather below 

 the average ; but were a little more flattened at the smaller end, and had a little less 

 of a yellowish tinge. There is said also to be a decided difference of texture. These 

 eggs varied in length from 2.05 to 2.04 inches, and in breadth from 1.42 to 1.52. Mr. 

 Woiley was informed by Hoffmansegg, a German naturalist, that the Smew occurs 

 in his neighborhood, which is more southerly than the district where the former was 

 staying ; and as Mr. Woiley did not hear of it on the north or northeast coast of 

 Norway, and as it is not known to breed in Sweden, he infers that it is an eastern 

 as well as a northern bird. 



The Smew is given by Middendorff as occurring in the wooded regions of Siberia. 



Mr. Wheelwright says of this species : " It is never seen on the southwestern 

 or eastern coast of Scandinavia, except in Avinter. It breeds sparingly in the far 

 north, but the e^g is more difficult to obtain than that of any other Scandinavian bird." 

 The e^^ in his collection Avas taken out of a hole in a tree between Joakmock and 

 Junakiok, in Lulea, Lapland. The year before, a Golden-eye had bred in the same 

 hole. The egg is so like that of Mareca penelope in shape, size, and coloring, that it 

 is difficult to distinguish one from the other. 



Mr. T. L. Powys found the Smew common in Epirus in February and March, 

 chiefly in immature plumage. It Avas also found in Southern Spain during the Avinter 

 by Mr. H. Saimders ; and it Avas esj)ecially common at the Albufera. 



