294 THE SAWBILLED-DUCKS 



6th August, the usual period of its arrival is a very late one, lasting from 12th 

 October to January or February (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird Migration, 1912, vol. i. 

 p. 161). It is " tolerably regular " in its visits to the south of England, and 

 commonest on the eastern seaboard of Great Britain, though rare in Shetland 

 (cf, Saunders, III. Man. Brit. B., 2nd ed., 1899, p. 473). But it does not visit us 

 in large numbers, for even in Yorkshire it is described as " uncommon," while 

 adults are very rare ; in Kent immature birds occur " almost annually," adults 

 more rarely (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, p. 485 ; and Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, 

 p. 375). On the west the smew is rare except in the Inner Hebrides, and is de- 

 scribed as " rare " and " irregular " in Dumfriesshire and " uncommon " in North 

 Wales (cf. Saunders, loc. cit. ; Gladstone, B. of Dumfries., 1910, p. 301 ; and 

 Forrest, Fauna of N. Wales, 1907, p. 294). It is rare and irregular in Ireland, but is 

 probably a scarce annual visitor from December on (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of 

 Ireland, 1900, p. 220). Visits both coastal and inland waters. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Does not breed in the British Isles. [F. c. B. J.] 



5. Food. Although to a great extent a fish-eater, this species consumes a 

 larger proportion of other kinds of food than the other sawbills. Naumann records 

 among other species eaten young trout, gudgeon, eels, lampreys, and at sea sand- 

 eels and Atherina hepsetus. H. A. Macpherson found eighteen minnows in the 

 gullet of one bird and a small eel in another, and Newstead records ten small flukes 

 (Platessa flesus) and a samlet in one bird, while another had five small flukes. 

 Boulton found roach 3 to 5 inches long. Other food eaten includes small 

 Crustacea, e.g. Crangon vulgaris, small frogs, and water-insects (Naumann) ; 

 aquatic insects and vegetable matter (Macpherson), sandhoppers (Newstead), and 

 molluscs (Stuart Baker). The young are tended by the duck alone. [F. c. E. J.] 



The following species is described in the supplementary chapter on " Rare 

 Birds " ; 



Hooded merganser, Mergus cuculldtus (Linnaeus). 



