The Smew 



man, John Wolley, who, after four years' search, succeeded 

 in obtaining three eggs together with a sitting bird. The 

 eggs are cream coloured and not unlike those of the Wigeon, 

 but they are slightly smaller. 



The adult male is entirely white, except for the mantle 

 and quills, which are jet black. The rump, upper tail coverts, 

 and tail are bluish grey, and the flanks delicately vermic- 

 ulated with the same colour. Stretching half-way across 

 the breast is a narrow black bar, and a shorter but broader 

 one starts a little farther back. There is a black patch 

 between the bill and the eye on each side, and another high 

 up on the occiput joining its fellow on the opposite side, 

 this black crescent being broken by the overlapping of the 

 slightly elongated feathers of the head. 



The " eclipse " plumage somewhat resembles that of the 

 immature male, from which it may always be distinguished 

 by the mantle remaining black. The female is smaller ; 

 head and neck reddish brown ; remainder of upper parts and 

 breast ashy grey; under parts white. Length 17'5 in.; 

 wing 7'6 in. 



THE HOODED MERGANSER 



Mergus cucullatus, Linnseus 



This is a North American species, which has only very 

 rarely visited our shores. It may be distinguished by a 

 semicircular crest or hood over the head, the posterior half 

 of which is white, with a dark edge. The general colour 



267 



