ANATIDA—SMEW. arg 
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 
Mergus serrator Zznm. 
Adult Male: Head, a pendent crest on the occiput, and 
upper part of the neck gveentsh-black, with glossy reflections ; 
lower neck white, a mesial line behind black ; dveast reddish- 
brown, spotted and variegated zwzth black ; near the insertion of 
the wing several large white spots bordered with black ; upper 
part of the back, scapulars, edge of the wing- and adjoining 
coverts, and primary-quills black; the rest of coverts and 
secondary quills white, but these last, as well as the greater 
coverts, black at bases, the whole together forming a large 
speculum divided by two transverse bars ; some of the inner- 
most secondaries white edged with black; lower back, 
rump, and flanks, greyzsh-wite with fine transverse, undulating 
black lines; belly and abdomen white; tail brown; bill 
orange-red, the ridge and nail dusky ; irides red; legs orange. 
Length 22 inches; culmen 2°4; wing 9°5 to 10; tail 3; tar- 
sus 2. 
Adult Females and Young in first plumage: ‘So 
closely resemble birds in similar plumage of the Goosander 
that they can only be distinguished by their smaller size ; they 
measure in length of wing 8°25 to g inches instead of 9°5 to 
fo°25 inches” (Seebohm). 
Males in first breeding dress: ‘ Have brown lower 
backs, and the white on the sides and back of the neck is 
streaked with brown ” (Seebohm). 
Males in moulting dress: ‘Closely resemble males in 
first plumage, but have the dark markings on the breast and 
flanks grey instead of brown” (Seebohm). 
Distribution: Found throughout the Palearctic and 
Nearctic regions. 
Habitat: Rock-bound bays and estuaries or inland fresh 
waters. 
_ SMEW. 
Mergus albellus Zznz. 
Adult Male: Fore part of cheeks, elongated nape-feathers, 
centre of back, two narrow crescentic tapering bands on either 
