158 WHITE SMEW. 



Lough Diver. Penn. Brit. Zool. 2. 5GO. Pcnn. Arct. Zool. 2. 



540. Bew. Brit. Birds, 2. 268. 

 Red-headed Smew. Penn. Brit. Zool. 2. 263. Beiv. Brit. Birds, 



2.266. Walc.Syn. I. pi. 83. 

 Minute Merganser. Lath. Gen. Syn. 6. 429. Lew. Brit. Birds, 



6. pi. 235. Don. Brit. Birds, pi. 52. Mont. Orn. Diet. 2. 



and Sup. 



LENGTH about seventeen inches : the beak, legs, 

 and toes ashy-blue : the membranes of the latter 

 black : the irides brown : the old male has a large 

 spot of green-black on each side of the beak, another 

 longitudinal one on the occiput : the crest, which is 

 much tufted, the neck, the scapulars, the lesser wing- 

 coverts, and all the under parts very pure white : the 

 top of the back, two crescents, which are directed 

 towards the sides of the breast, and the edges of the 

 scapulars deep black: the sides and thighs varied 

 with ashy zigzag stripes : the tail ash-coloured. The 

 female is rather less : has the top of the head, the 

 cheeks, and the occiput of a reddish-brown : the 

 throat, upper part of the neck, belly, and abdomen 

 white : the lower part of the neck, the breast, sides, 

 and rump of a bright ash : the upper part of the 

 tail very deep ash : the wings varied with white, ash- 

 coloured, and black. The young during the first 

 year resemble the female : the males at the age of 

 one year are distinguished by some small dusky fea- 

 thers, which form a large spot on the side near the 

 beak; by several whitish and white feathers which 

 are scattered on the head and nape ; by the upper 

 part of the back being varied with black and ash- 

 coloured feathers, and by the indication of the two 

 black lunules on each side of the breast. The young 



