206 THE BIRDS OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 



thing of the same colour as those of the Common 

 Wild Duck, perhaps rather less green and more buff 

 than the average production of that species. From 

 the comparatively small number of males in their 

 brilliant full plumage that we noticed on Lough 

 Corrib in June, I am disposed to think that the 

 change takes place in this species later than in 

 most of the true Ducks and Pochards, but I have as 

 yet had no opportunity of verifying this supposition 

 from personal observation. 



Although Mergansers will occasionally allow a 

 pretty close approach during the summer months, 

 I have generally found them very wary at other 

 times, and their speed under water and on wing 

 is very great. This species is common during the 

 winter in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, and was very 

 abundant during the cold weather of 1850-51 on the 

 Lake of Geneva, on whose shores I was assured, but 

 do not believe, that it breeds. 



196. SMEW. 



Mergus alhellus. 



Besides the occurrence of this bird in company 

 with Goosanders and Mergansers, as quoted from 

 Mr. Edmonds's letter in my article on the Goosander, 

 I can only find three records of the appearance of 

 Smews on the Nen in my journals : the first of these 

 was a beautiful adult male at which I fired a harmless 

 shot at an easy distance, as it rose from a hole in the 

 ice about half a mile below Lilford in January 1850. 

 This bird was accompanied by a Duck that puzzled 

 me very much at the time, but have now very little 



