PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 293 



recognised. The sexes differ in plumage ; there is a marked seasonal change of 

 coloration. (PI. 166.) Length 17 in. [444 mm.]. The male may be described 

 as white, with large black patch in front of and embracing the eye, a patch of black 

 on the nape, two crescentic lines of black across the fore-back, and a black back. 

 The outermost scapulars are bordered with black ; the median wing-coverts and 

 the major coverts are black, the latter tipped with white ; the secondaries are also 

 black tipped with white : thus is formed a double white wing-bar. The rump and 

 tail-coverts are grey with hoary margins, and the tail quills are grey, and the flanks 

 have grey vermiculations. The " eclipse " dress is like that of the female, but 

 the dark bands on each side of the fore-breast are retained. The female has the 

 head and upper part of the neck chesnut, save for a black patch in front of the 

 eye, and a white throat. The upper parts are grey. The wings are coloured as 

 in the male, and the under parts are white. Young birds resemble the female, 

 but lack the black patch on the face, and have the white on the wings washed 

 with brown. The young in down are dark brown, with a white spot below the eye, 

 another on the posterior edge of the wing and on the hinder end of the body ; the 

 under parts are white, [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. The breeding range of this species, which is only a winter 

 visitor to the British Isles, extends from Sweden across North Russia and Siberia 

 to Kamtschatka. In Sweden it is found in wooded districts on the borders of 

 Swedish and Russian Lapland, but has also been recorded exceptionally from 

 Sandhamn, near Stockholm. In Lapland and Northern Finland it is not uncommon 

 up to the tree limit in the Kola Peninsula, on the Muonio river, in Enontekis, Enare, 

 etc. ; while in Russia it breeds on Lake Onega, the Dwina, rarely on the Oka, the 

 Petschora valley, and the Perm government. Buturlin also states that it breeds 

 in the Ufa government and on the Volga. Dombrowski has recorded nests from 

 the Dobrogea, but this requires confirmation. Its winter range extends to the 

 Swiss lakes, and in a south-westerly direction along the coast of West Europe to 

 the Western Mediterranean, and it has once been recorded from Egypt ; as well as 

 to the Caspian and Black Seas, and thence to the Eastern Mediterranean. In Asia 

 it has been recorded from Persia, Afghanistan, N. India, China, and Japan, but not 

 from Southern India or Burma. The only American record is probably erroneous. 

 [F. o. B. j.] 



3. Migration. Unlike its congeners, the smew is entirely a winter visitor 

 to our area, coming to us from that part of Northern Europe which lies east of 

 Finnish Lapland. Although the smew has been exceptionally recorded as early as 



VOL. IV. 2 P 



