450 THE GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL 



Genus MERQUS, or Smews. 



Type, MEEGUS ALBELLUS. 



MergUS, of Linnaeus (1766). The birds comprising the present genus are 

 characterised by having a straight, slender, narrow bill shorter than the meta- 

 tarsus, furnished on both upper and lower mandible with saw-like lamellae. The 

 wings are moderately long. The nostrils are lateral and central. The metatarsus 

 is short ; three toes in front, webbed ; hind toe moderate and lobed. 



This genus contains but a single specie which is distributed over the northern 

 portions of the Palaearctic region, and is a winter visitor to our area. 



The Smews frequent both inland waters as well as maritime districts. 

 They are birds of rapid, if laboured flight, and swim and dive with wonderful 

 skill, but on the land they walk clumsily. Their notes are loud and unmusical. 

 They subsist on fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and shell-fish. They make rude 

 nests, which are lined with down, in holes of trees. Their eggs are numerous, 

 and cream-white in colour. They are monogamous and probably pair for life. 

 They are more or less gregarious, except in the breeding season, although social 

 tendencies are even then observable. 



