J.IFE HISTORTKS OK NOF.TIl A MIJITCAX WU.I) FOWL. 81 



Courtslii'p. — Millais (1913) (lcs('ii])os tlic coiirlsliij) pcrfoirnanoo of 

 the smew as follows: 



The male swims hIowIv around the female, sometimes with the long scapulars 

 slightly raised or expaude<I. Tlic head and neck is often moved slowly forward in a 

 jnishing manner, and when about to niake the act of display the neck is drawn hack 

 as far as possihle between the scapulars. All this time the crest is raised and spread 

 in a very peculiar fashion. It is separated into two parts, the front consisting of 

 only a few feathers of the front of the crown. These stand quite clear away from 

 the latter part of the crest, which is expanded above the nuchal patch of black. 

 Often a sinyh! wliitc feather stands out alone connecting the two sections of the crest. 

 The nuchal patch lies flat, and the back of the head is not distended in any way. 



The next act of show is to push farward the neck sommvhat slowly and then 

 back as far as possible, t!ie crest on the crown being raised as already indicated, and 

 the chin jiointed upward, whilst there is a slight rise of the forepart of the body as it 

 is lifted from the water. During this sedate movement the mating cry of the male 

 is uttered. Thetliroat is slightly swelled, and the note is a })rolongcd croak or grunt 

 like the word "err-err-err-umph, " the last sound being an exhalation to clear the 

 lungs, and seemiug to be an effort on the part of the bird. During this movement 

 the bird is stationary, with the tail either lying under or on the siuface of the water. 



On the completion of the movement there is a quick forward dip of the head and 

 bill, followed by a sudden rise of the forepart of the body out of the water, something 

 like a "mallard and teal" show, but not nearly so upright. In fact, it is almost a 

 forward movement. At the same time the feet are paddled vigorously to maintain 

 equilibrium. The call is often made as the bird throws itself up and forward. 



At the cud of this movement the bird often drops to the water with neck out- 

 stretched and parallel to the water, and when in full show oft(;n makes a little rush 

 forward. 



Nesting.— Vov a long time tlie broodinj:; habits of the smew re- 

 mained a mystery, until Mr. John Wolloy received some authentic 

 eggs and established the fact that the species bred in holes in trees in 

 Swedish Lai)land; he published a full account of it in The Ibis in 1859, 

 from which Yarrell (1871) and others have ((uoted extensively. Prol)- 

 ably all statements to the eil'ect that tlie smew nests on tJte ground 

 are erroneous, as it is known to nest only in hollow trees and in nest- 

 ing boxes i)iit up by the Laps for ducks to nest in. It is not known 

 to nest north of tlie tree limit. 



The down in the nest is described by Millais (1913) as "'small and 

 grayish white, freely intermixed with fine white featht?rs. Fragments 

 of rotten wood and moss may also be found mixed witlt the down at 

 the bottom of the nest hole or nesting box.'" 



Eggs. — He says of the eggs: 



Usually fj to 9 in number, but 10 have been record e<l. They are creamy in color 

 and smooth in texture. Average size of 107 eggs, 52. •!2 by ;57.U) millimeters; maxi- 

 mum, -58 by 40.-3; minimum, 47.7 by 34. They are smaller on the average than 

 widgeons'; decidedly shorter as a rule, and not quite so broad; but the measurements 

 of the species overlap. Full clutches may be taken in northern Europe from the 

 last week of May to the middle of .Tune. 



