26o WATER FOWL. 



and insects. The Smew breeds in holes of trees, near 

 lakes or rivers, retiring from the sea-coast during the 

 mating season. The male is a very attractive bird, and 

 in spite of the more brilliant coloring possessed by its 

 relatives, in its pure white dress wdth the jet black mark- 

 ings, has a strong claim to be considered as one of 

 the handsomest of them all. 



M ERG US A LB ELL US. 



GeograpJiical Distribution. — Northern Europe and Asia, go- 

 ing in winter to the Mediterranean, northern India, China, and 

 Japan. Very accidental in North America, the male never hav- 

 ing been seen within its limits. 



Adult Male. — General plumage, white. A large patch at 

 base of the bill, including the lores and eyes; lower portion of 

 nuchal crest, middle of the back, and two crescentic narrow 

 lines on side of breast, outer edge of scapulars, and rump, jet 

 black. Upper tail coverts, gray; edges, lighter. Middle wing 

 coverts, white; greater coverts and secondaries, black, tipped 

 with white. Primaries, blackish brown. Tail, dark gray. 

 Sides and flanks undulated with fine black lines on a gray 

 ground. Bill, bluish; nail, lighter. Iris, bluish white. Legs 

 and feet, bluish lead color; webs, darker. Total length, about 

 i6f inches; wing, 7y%; culmen, i^; tarsus, i-|. 



Adult Female. — Head and nape, chestnut brown; lores and 

 cheeks, brownish black. Throat and sides of neck, white. 

 Upper parts, brownish gray, darkest on the rump; some feathers 

 on back tipped with ashy gray. Wings like the male. Tertials, 

 brown. Upper breast, slaty gray. Sides and flanks, brownish 

 gray. Under parts, white. Tail, brown gray. 



Downy Young. — Upper half of head, including the eye, back 

 of neck, and upper parts of the body, blackish brown. Sides of 

 head, chin, and throat, small spot below the eye, a spot on edge 

 and another at joint of wing, one on flanks and one on each side 

 of the rump, together with the breast and abdomen, white. 

 Upper breast, dusky; flanks, brown. 



