ANSERES. 259 



The Red-breasted Merganser is a circumpolar bird, breeding in the 

 subarctic districts of both continents. 



256. MERGUS ALBELLUS. 



(SMEW.) 



Meryus albellus, Linneus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 209 (17GG). 



The Smew is the smallest of the Mergansers, and the central 

 secondaries are dark with narrow white terminal bands. 



Figures : Dresser, Birds of Europe, vi. pis. 454, 455. 



The Smew is a winter visitor to the Japanese Islands, and is sent 

 both to the Yezzo and the Yokohama game-markets (Blakiston and 

 Pryer, Ibis, 1878, p. 215). There are three examples in the Pryer 

 collection from the latter locality. The examples procured by the 

 Siebold Expedition were probably obtained at Nagasaki (Temminck 

 and Schlegel, Fauna Japonica, Aves, p. 129). 



The Smew winters on the British coasts, as well as on those of 

 Japan. It breeds in the intervening Arctic Regions. 



The Smew is represented on the American Continent by the 

 Hooded Merganser, Mergus cucullatus , a perfectly distinct species 

 with a much longer bill and with many important differences in its 

 colour. 



Suborder XXIII. PALAMEDE^. 



The Screamers are supposed to be absolutely unique amongst 

 existing birds in having lost the uncinate processes of their ribs. 

 In this respect they appear to be in advance of all other birds. They 

 may otherwise be diagnosed as follows : — Plumage of upper parts 

 with no spinal bare tract. Palate desmognathous. Young born 

 covered with down, and able to run in a few hours. Only three 

 species are known, which are confined to the Neotropical Region. 



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