MERGITORES. 819 



instead of black ; the throat, sides and front of the upper neck, 

 and the abdomen white ; and the lower neck, breast and flanks, 

 clouded with ash colour. Bill and legs dark grey. Much smaller 

 than the male, and Pallas states that she has only 14 rectrices. 



The Smew is found occasionally in various parts of Northern 

 India during the cold weather. It has been killed near Cuttack ; 

 in Oude ; is said not to be rare near Delhi ;and has also been met 

 with in Sindh. 



[t inhabits the north of both Continents, breedino; in hiffh lati- 

 tudes in crevices and holes of trees, and laying 8 eggs. The young 

 have pale or whitish down, and Mr. Wolley, who remarks this fact, 

 states that no duck that has white down lays its eggs in an 

 exposed situation ; the converse, however, does not hold good, 

 for the little Cotton-teal, that always breeds in holes, has black 

 down. It is said to be an excellent diver, and to feed on fish, 

 Crustacea, and water insects, is very shy and vigilant, and flies 

 rapidly. During flight it continually utters its peculiar bell-like 

 call, hence it is called the Bell-duck in Northern Asia. Its flesh 

 is exceedingly fishy, and, says Pallas, is rarely eaten even by the 

 Russians. The same naturalist states that it returns very early 

 from its winter migrations, the females arriving first, they are hence 

 called Widows by some. 



A very handsome species, Mergus cucullatus, from America, a 

 rare visitant to England, is separated by Reichenbacli as Lopho- 

 di/fes ; and the red-breasted Merganser of Europe, is retained 

 under restricted Mergus. One or two additional species of this 

 family are recorded, one of which, Merganetta armata, differs in its 

 somewhat rounded wing, armed with a spur. 



Tribe. Meroitores, Blyth. 



Syn, Colgmhides, Van Hoeven. 



Wings fitted for flying, primaries short ; tarsus compressed ; 

 hallux always present. 



This tribe comprises the two distinct families of the Divers or 

 Loons, CoLYMBiDiE, and the Grebes, Podicipid^ ; the former 

 with the anterior toes completely webbed ; and the latter with 

 the toes free, bordered by a large loose web. The hind toe 

 IS lobed and partly connected with the outer membrane of the 



