506 ANATID^. 



dift'ering much from one another, have all white down, and 

 all lay their eggs in holes of trees when such are to be found, 

 whilst one of them at least has well-coloured eggs.'"* 



Since Wolley's discovery, Messrs. Seebohm and Harvie- 

 Brown have obtained authenticated eggs of the Smew at 

 Habariki, on the Petchora ; and, as before remarked, our 

 knowledge of its breeding-range is far more extensive. The 

 average measurements of the eggs are 2 by 1*45 in. 



Smews are shy and vigilant, taking long flights occasion- 

 ally and swimming away rapidly on the approach of a boat. 

 They feed on small fish, Crustacea, and aquatic insects, 

 which they obtain without difficulty as they are excellent 

 divers, pursuing their prey under water with great rapidity, 

 but when walking they appear to labour in their progression, 

 from the backward position of their legs. Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 jun., found a frog in the gullet of a bird purchased in 

 Leadenhall Market in January 1867. 



In the adult male the bill is one inch and a half long, 

 and of a bluish-lead colour, the nail horny and white ; the 

 irides reddish-brown ; at the base of the bill on each side, 

 a black patch, which just surrounds the eye ; from the 

 crown of the head down the line of the occiput, another 

 dark patch elongated, which is tinged with green, the dark 

 feathers mixed with others that are white, and all somewhat 

 elongated, forming a crest ; the other parts of the head, the 

 chin, and all the neck white ; the back black ; rump, upper 

 tail-coverts, and tail-feathers, ash-grey ; the point of the 

 wing greyish-black, with two crescentic lines of black point- 

 ing forward, one before and one behind the point of the 

 wing ; the small wing-coverts and scapulars white, the 

 latter edged with black ; great coverts and secondaries black, 

 tipped witli white, forming two narrow white bands ; the 

 primaries nearly black ; inner secondaries ash-grey, passing 

 to lead grey, the inner feathers being the darkest in colour ; 

 all the under surface of the body pure white ; the sides 

 under the wing and the flanks barred with narrow ash-grey 



* To tliis list may be added the Harlequin Duck, which nests iu holes and has 

 white down. — [Ed.] 



