176 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
immediately I approached the river bank, and got 
as near the opposite side as they thought safe, and 
there remained for twenty minutes, giving me a 
splendid opportunity of watching their habits. Both 
birds were in adult plumage; but from the size of 
its crest, and cautious manners, one was evidently an 
old bird; this fellow acted as sentinel while the other 
continually dived. Eventually the birds took wing, ap- 
parently rising with little difficulty; at first they flew 
towards the city, but gradually wheeled round towards 
me, flying straight down the centre of the river. 
‘When swimming the neck is much arched, and the 
bill scarcely extends beyond the breast. During the 
whole of the time that I watched them the crest was 
carried semi-erect, and at all times the beautiful 
greenish-black feathers were conspicuous. The black 
wing-feathers were hidden by the marginal breast- 
feathers, which gave the birds a much whiter appearance 
than I anticipated. The birds uttered no note as they 
rose from the water; their flight, too, was very silent. 
‘They had evidently resorted to our river for the sake 
of the Flukes (Platessa flesus, Fleming) which abound, 
as I found ten of these fish and a Salmonn Fy in the 
gullet of the male which was shot by Mr. Hignett.’? 
In the severe weather of February 1895, several 
Smews were observed in the Mersey Estuary, near Ince. 
An adult male, now in the collection of Mr. R. Newstead, 
sen., was obtained on the second of the month. 
1 Dobie, op. cit. p. 327. 
