MEEGUS. 467 



near Ludiaua, in the neighbourhood of Delhi, near Roorkee, and 

 lastly near Hurdoi between Lucknovv and Bareilly. The specimen 

 from the last locality, shot January 22nd, 1896, was in full moult 

 .and incapable of flight. 



Habits, fyc. The habits of this bird are very peculiar. It is a 

 freshwater form, more given to diving than to flying, and it swims 

 rapidly with its curious stiff tail erect at right angles to its body. 

 It lays 7 to 9 dull white eggs in a nest amongst reeds or grass, and 

 the eggs are remarkable for their rough, coarse surface. 



Subfamily MERGING. 



Bill subconical or subcylindrical, not depressed ; the tip hooked; 

 lamella? replaced by tooth-like serrations ; feet large, hind toe 

 broadly lobed. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Culmen not longer than tarsus ; tail of 16 



feathers MEBGUS, p. 467. 



b. Culmen much longer than tarsus ; tail of 18 



feathers MERGANSER, p. 468. 



Genus MERGUS, Linn., 1766. 



An occipital crest, small in females. Bill about as long as the 

 head, tapering throughout, culmen straight ; nostril large, about 

 one-third the distance from base to tip of bill. Wing short, pointed ; 

 tail rounded, of 16 feathers (occasionally 18 may be found) ; legs 

 situated far back ; tarsus very short, foot large. A single caecum, 

 only according to Blyth. 



There is but one species. 



1612. Mergus albellus. The Smew. 



Mergus albellus. Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 209 (1766) ; Irby, Ibis, 1861, 

 p. 251 ; Salvation, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 464. 



Mergellus albellus, Blyth, Cat. p. 340 ; Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 818 ; 

 Blyth, Ibis, 1867, p. 176 ; Hume, S. F. i, p. 265 ; Butler $ Hume, 

 S. F. iv, p. 31 ; Butler, S. F. vii, p. 188 ; Sail, ibid. p. 233 ; Hume, 

 Cat. no. 973 ; Hume $ Marsh. Game B. iii, p. 293, pi. ; C. Swinh. 

 Ibis, 1882, p. 125 : Reid, S. F. x, p. 85; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 417. 

 Nihenne, H. (Etawah, N.W.P.). 



Fig. 124. Head of M. albelliLS. %. 



Coloration. Male. Greater part of plumage white; a black 

 patch on lores including the eye and gape ; the hinder feathers of 



