THE WOOD-PIGEON OR RING DOVE 203 
distinguish either of the species from the trueDucks already described. 
On the coast of Norfolk the popular name ‘Smee Duck’ includes 
several kinds of Ducks, and I presume the present species ; but the 
bill, in the form of an elongated and almost cylindrical cone, with 
the edges of both mandibles furnished with saw-like teeth pointed 
backwards, cannot fail to distinguish the genus Mergus. 
The Smew, or Smee, properly so called, is a winter visitor with us, 
more impatient of cold than the Duck-tribe generally, and conse- 
quently frequenting the southern more than the northern parts of 
the island. In open weather it resorts to our rivers and fresh-water 
lakes, where it feeds on small fish and other aquatic animals, which 
it obtains by diving. In severe frosts it either flies farther south 
or repairs to tidal rivers and harbours. Though not a rare bird, it 
is sparingly distributed. It is found on many of the continental 
rivers, even those which are far distant from the sea, but is not often 
killed, as it is shy of being approached, readily takes wing, flies 
swiftly, and as a diver is most rapid and expert. It is, however, 
little sought after, for, in spite of its relationship, its strong fishy 
flavour prevents it from passing muster as a Duck. Of its nesting 
little or nothing is known. In the north of Devon it is called, 
according to Montagu, ‘ Vare Wigeon’, from the supposed resem- 
blance of its head to that of a ‘ vare’ or weasel. I have also heard 
it called the ‘ Weasel Duck’ in Norfolk, and on the south coast the 
‘ Weasel-headed’, 
ORDER COLUMB: 
FAMILY COLUMBIDA 
THE WOOD PIGEON OR RING DOVE 
COLUMBA PALUMBUS 
Head, cheeks, neck, and upper part of the tail, bluish grey; back and wing- 
coverts darker ; a white crescent-shaped spot on each side of the neck 
surrounded by scale-like feathers with green and purple reflections ; 
primaries grey towards the base, white in the middle, and dusky towards 
the extremity, with the outer web white; tail barred with black at the 
end ; abdomen whitish ; bill orange, powdered with white at the base; 
iris light yellow; feet blood-red; claws brown. Length sixteen and a 
half inches. Eggs pure white. 
Two hundred and fifty years ago the taste for keeping different 
sorts of Pigeons was as strong as it is in the present day, and the 
popular names of Runts, Croppers, Shakers, Carriers, Jacobins, 
