SMEW. 485 



of a marine species than the preceding, but it has been found 

 in several inland localities in addition to those mentioned 

 by Allis, viz. : — Richmond, Ilkley, the flooded waters of the 

 Derwent at East Cottingwith, Masham, Malton, Kirkburton, 

 and on some of the large West Riding reservoirs. 



The name by which this bird is known to coast gunners 

 and wildfowlers is Sawbill or Sawbill Duck, and sometimes 

 Dun Diver, terms which are also applied to the Goosander. 



SMEW. 

 Mergus albellus {£.). 



Winter visitant, of uncommon occurence. Is reported both on 

 the coast and on inland waters, chiefly in immature plumage, the adult 

 being extremely rare. 



Willughby's " Ornithology " contains the earliest known 

 Yorkshire reference to the Smew, where it is alluded to as 

 " The White Nun. — Albellus alter. Aldrov." " The female 

 of this is also mistaken for a different kind, and called 

 Mergus glacialis, which Mr. Johnson [of Brignall, near Greta 

 Bridge] Englishes the Lough Diver." (WiU. " Orn." 1678, 

 p. 27.) 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Mergus albellus. — Smew — Several have been shot near Doncaster 

 in hard winters ; it is rare near Leeds, but has been procured at Swil- 

 lington in 1838, and also at Gledhow ; occasionally obtained near 

 York, but the female and immutare male are much more frequent 

 than the full plumaged male. 



The Smew is not an abundant species ; as a winter visitant 

 it is met with sparingly at the coast and on inland waters, 

 females or males in immature plumage being more often 

 reported than old birds, though during severe winters and in 

 stormy weather adults of both sexes are occasionally captured. 



This bird is, perhaps, more frequently noted on fresh water 

 than on the tidal portions ; the river Hull in the neighbour- 

 hood of Beverley, and the Derwent near Cottingwith, Escrick, 



