SMEW 



ANSERES. 



499 



ANATID^. 



Mergus albellus, Linngeus.* 



THE SMEW. 



Mergus albellus. 



The Smew, Smee, or Nun, as it is sometimes called, is a 

 winter visitor to the British Islands, frequenting our rivers 

 and large pieces of fresh water, as well as most parts of 

 the coast, especially in severe seasons. The adult male, a 

 handsome hird, remarkable for the contrast rather than the 

 variety of the colours of his plumage, is, however, decidedly 

 rare, but young birds and females, frequently called Red- 

 headed Smews, are not uncommon. The species appears 

 to be a more frequent visitor to the eastern side of Eng- 

 land and Scotland than to the west, and, when found on 

 the latter, it is generally on rivers or fresh-water lochs. 

 In Ireland it is of irregular occurrence on the coast and 

 * Mn-gus Albellux, Linnicus, Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 209 (ITfifi). 



