SMEW. 225 



somewhat numerous, but not a single adult male was 

 recorded. In the winter of 1869-70 several were met 

 with, a full plumaged male being shot at Burgh, near 

 Yarmouth ; two or three young ones were also sent to 

 the Norwich Market. Again, in 1870-71, smews were 

 frequent, with an unusual proportion of adults ; and Mr. 

 Stevenson records ("Zoologist," 1871, pp.2499, 2600, 

 and 2828) many shot in various parts of the county (one 

 female as far inland as Wretham, in March), the 

 weather being at the time extremely severe, with pro- 

 longed frost and snow. Between 1871 and 1879 very 

 few good birds appear to have been met with, but, in 

 the latter year, two adult females were shot on Breydon, 

 on the 8th December, and two more on the 28th. In 

 January, 1881, I have notes of four old females and 

 three young birds, one of the latter killed at Taverham, 

 near Norwich. In March of the same year two old 

 males in fine plumage were killed at Hickling, on the 

 6th ; and, on the 25th of April, a remarkably late 

 occurrence, two were shot at Ean worth. In September 

 another was killed at Hickling. On February 14th, 

 1 889, a female was shot at Oley and sent to Mr. Pashley 

 of that place for preservation, where it was seen by Mr. 

 J. H. Grurney, jun. 



The smew shows considerable partiality for fresh 

 water, and it will be noticed that in the foregoing list 

 of occurrences some are said to have been killed at 

 Ranworth, Rockland, Surlingham, and even at Taver- 

 ham, on the Eiver Wensum, some thirty-five miles from 

 the sea, following the course of the river. They are 

 occasionally seen on all the larger broads and inland 

 pieces of water. Mr. Alexander Napier tells me that a 

 small party frequent the lake at Holkham annually; he 

 remembers their being there for fifteen years, arriving 

 about the end of December and departing sometimes as 

 late as the first week in April, but the time both of 

 their arrival and departure is very much governed by 

 the weather. In rough weather they spend their time 

 on the lake, always giving preference to the deep end, 

 but on calm days do not as a rule leave the sea; the 

 flock consists of from five to seven, and Mr. Napier has 

 never known them to exceed the latter number ; one 



2F 



