THE SMEW. 241 
These birds feed on fish, of which they destroy an immense 
number. They also commit serious depredations on the spawning 
beds. They are able to accumulate a large quantity of air in the 
trachea, and therefore can remain some time under water without 
breathing ; this assists them to remain under the water when in 
search of their prey. Their power of locomotion when submerged 
is so great that they can traverse a considerable distance before they 
reappear upon the surface. The activity they display in pursuit of 
their food is very great; for, in order to accelerate their speed in 
swimming, they make use of their wings as well as of their feet. The 
Goosander swallows fish head first ; however, it sometimes happens 
that the body of their prey is too bulky to be easily gorged ; they 
have to submit to the temporary inconvenience of gradual absorp- 
tion ; thus, sometimes the digestion of the fish’s head has commenced 
whilst the tail is still projecting from the bill. 
Their flight is generally without elevation, but rapid and pro- 
longed. On land their gait is awkward and tottering. They generally 
inhabit temperate regions during the winter, and in spring return to 
the high latitudes, where are their breeding places. They lay from 
eight to fourteen whitish-coloured eggs, either on the shore between 
two large stones, or in thickets of grass on the edge of lakes and 
rivers: occasionally a hollow in a tree is selected; but their nesting- 
place is invariably near water, and is composed of dry grass, sedges, 
fibrous roots, and other similar materials, with a lining of down 
plucked from their breast. 
The Goosander is a regular visitor, in winter, to our coasts and 
inland lakes. It breeds in North Uist and others of the Outer 
Hebrides. Its flesh is unedible except when young. 
THe SmMew (Afergus albellus). 
Like its congeners, the Smew (Fig. go) is a native of the northern 
regions of both continents, retiring southward as winter approaches, 
and spreading in great numbers over Germany, France, and Italy, 
returning northward in April. Montague says it is plentiful on the 
south coast of England, but that it is not known to breed there. It 
is of elegant form, smaller than the Goosander, being only fifteen 
inches in length. The plumage of the head is full, soft, and blended ; 
the upper part of the head and nape elongated, forming a gradually 
narrowing crest ; the wings short, rather narrow, slightly convex, and 
pointed—when closed reaching to within an inch and a half from the 
end of the tail. The male bird, at maturity, has a great spot of 
