WHITE SMEW. 



of both sexes are also discriminated by a large white 

 space on the greater wing-coverts, which in the old 

 are white only at their tips. 



The trachea of this bird (according to Latham) is 

 smallest near the upper part, but enlarges as it ap- 

 proaches towards the middle, whence to the bottom 

 it continues nearly of equal dimensions, the texture 

 consisting of completely bony rings, with scarcely 

 any intervening : at the bottom is a bony cavity as in 

 the Merganser, smaller in proportion, and differing 

 in shape, the greater expanse being from side to side, 

 whereas in them it is almost upwards and down- 

 wards : on one side is a round hole, covered by a 

 drum-like membrane, and on the opposite an oval 

 smooth hollow bone uniting with it : from the bottom 

 arise the branchial tubes. 



The Smew inhabits the arctic regions of the two 

 worlds ; and in the autumn and throughout the winter 

 is plentiful in England, France, Germany, Holland, 

 and sometimes as far south as Italy. It frequents 

 our coasts and fresh waters in the winter, but has not 

 been known to breed in this country. It is said to 

 lay from ten to a dozen whitish eggs. It is a very 

 shy species, and readily takes wing when surprised : 

 is equally expert in air as in water, and is with dif- 

 ficulty shot. Its principal food is small Crustacea and 

 fish, after which it dives with great ease, and remains 

 for a long period under water. 



