PIED SMEW. 237 



the outer web, except the margin ; the inner four greyish- 

 black. The hind part of the back is gradually shaded into 

 deep ash-grey, of which colour are the upper tail-coverts and 

 the tail-feathers. 



Length to end of tail 17^ inches ; extent of wings 27^ ; 

 wing from flexure 8w ; tail 3^ ; bill along the ridge 1-^, along 

 the edge of lower mandible 1^, its height at the base -^, its 

 breadth behind the unguis -^ ; tarsus 1-^ ; hind toe -j^, its 

 claw -j^ ; second toe l^, its claw -^ ; third toe 2-^, its 

 claw -^ ; fourth toe 2, its claw ■^. 



Female. — The female, which is much less, has the crest 

 considerably shorter, and the plumage in general more 

 blended. The bill is pale blue, with the unguis whitish ; 

 the iris red ; the feet greyish-blue, with a tinge of green, 

 and the webs dusky. The upper part of the head and the 

 hind-neck nearly half-way down are brownish-red ; the loral 

 space and fore part of the cheek reddish-black, its hind part 

 brown. The throat is pure white half-way doAvn ; the lower 

 neck all round ash-grey, darker behind ; the rest of the 

 lower parts pure white, except the upper part of the sides 

 and some of the lower wing-coverts, which are ash-grey. 

 The middle of the back is greyish-black ; the hind part, 

 sides, and the scapulars grey, as is the tail. The wings as 

 in the male, but with none of the smaller coverts dark- 

 coloured. 



Length to end of tail 15| inches ; extent of wings 24; 

 bill along the ridge 1^, along the edge of lower mandible 

 1-^ ; wing from flexure 7-^ ; tail 3-^^ ; tarsus l-fj ; first toe 

 -j^, its claw -f^ ; second toe 1^, its claw -^ ; third toe 1-L^, 

 its claw -j^ ; fourth toe 1\^, its claw -^. 



Habits. — This Smew, which is said to be a native of the 

 arctic regions of both continents, b\it of much rarer occur- 

 rence in America than in Europe, retires southward as the 

 winter approaches, appearing in great numbers in Germany, 

 Holland, France, and Italy, from the middle of October to 

 the end of November, and returning in April. Considerable 

 numbers also betake themselves to the eastern and southern 



