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bluish colour, speckled with purplish red. It is 
easily tamed, and like the Goldfinch, may be 
taught a variety of tricks. In a confined state it 
readily breeds with the Canary. 
SMEW. 
MeEra@us ALBELLUS, Lin. 
This species, which is a native of the Arctic 
regions of both continents, and which passes the 
summer in the colder regions, retires southwards 
in the end of October, and visits the southern parts 
of England in moderate numbers, but is rarely met 
with in Scotland. Its flight is quick and direct, 
but it walks with difficulty. It feeds on small fish, 
crustacea, and aquatic insects, and is an excellent 
diver. It constructs a rather bulky nest, which it 
lines with down. It lays seven or eight cream- 
coloured eggs, specimens of which have been 
obtained in Iceland. Young birds, frequently called 
Red-headedSmews, are much more commonly taken 
than old males. 
SNIPE, BROWN. 
RED-BREASTED SNIPE. 
ScoLopax q@rispa, Penn. 
‘This species is extremely abundant on the coasts 
of the United States of America, where it is found 
