MEEGUS 809 



Genus MEEGUS. 



The genus Merr/us contains but a single species, the well-known 

 Smew iMergus albellus). Its curious narrow beak and its much 

 smaller size than either of the Mergansers will at once serve to 

 distinguish it from all other species of ducks found in India. 



(46) MERGUS ALBELLUS. 



THE SMEW. 



Mergus albellus, Linn. S. N. s. ed. i, p. 129 (1758) (Smyrna) ; Sal- 

 raclori, Cat. B. 31. sxvii, p. 461 : Blanford, Avifauna B. I. iv. p. 467 ; 

 Oates, Game-B. ii, p. 413 ; Ratfraij,J. B. X. H. S. xii, p. 348; Siuail 

 Baker, ibid, xiii, p. 200 (1900) ; id. Indian Dnclo^, p. 262 (1908) ; 

 Francis, J. B. X. H. S. sx, p. 224 (1910). 



Mergellus albellus, Ji-rdon, B. of I. iii, p. 818 ; Hume, S. F. i, p. 26o : 

 Butler a' Hume, ibid, iv, p. 31 ; Butler, ibid, vii, p. 188 ; Ball, ibid. 

 p. 233 ; Hume, Cat. No. 973 ; Hume <(' Marsh. Game-B. iii, p. 293 : 

 Reid, S. F. x, p. 95 ; Barnes, B. of Bom. p. 417 ; Oates, Game-B. ii, 

 p. 413. 



Description. Adult Male.— A large patch from base of both mandibles to 

 back of eye and including base of ear-coverts black, with green reflections ; 

 subordinate and lateral feathers of the crest the same, the black extending 

 in a narrow line, more or less, on the sides of the head ; a crescentic blaclc 

 band above the upper back, descending down on either side of the breast ; 

 back black, duller on the lower back, and changing to brown-grey on the 

 rump and upper tail-coverts, where the feathers are dark-centred ; rest of 

 head and whole lower surface white, under aspect of tail pale-grey, the 

 feathers white-shafted except at the tips ; primaries brown, dark-shafted 

 above, white-shafted below ; outer secondaries black with white tips, the 

 next two or three white, the innermost silver-grey with dark shafts and 

 white outer edges ; greater coverts black, those over the secondaries tipped 



