94 SMEW RING DOVE OE WOOD PIGEON. 



SMEW (Mergus albellus). 



A winter visitor to our coasts, but much rarer than the two . 

 preceding species. 



Haunts. The sea, inland freshwater lakes, &c. 



Plumage. Forehead, crown, crest, neck, and under parts 

 white ; black patch before or below the eye, and greenish black 

 triangular patch on crest. Back black. Scapulars white, edged 

 with black. Lesser wing-coverts white ; greater coverts black, 

 barred narrowly twice with white. Quills and tail-feathers 

 brownish black. Flanks finely vermiculated with grey. Bill, 

 legs, and feet lead-colour. Length 17 in. Female: much 

 smaller ; head reddish brown ; nuchal stripe and collar ash- 

 grey ; otherwise resembling male. Young, upper parts mottled 

 with grey. 



Habit*. Very wary and shy. Flight very rapid. An excellent 

 diver, seeking its food under water. Like its two preceding 

 congeners, it is altogether out of its element on land, walking 

 awkwardly owing to the backward position of the legs. 



Food. Fish, Crustacea, &c. 



Nidification. Breeds in Northern Europe and Asia. 



ORDER COLUMB^. 



Family COLVMBIDJE. 



RING DOVE OR WOOD PIGEON (Colwnba palumbus). 



Resident; common, and found in all well-wooded districts. 



Plumage. Upper parts bluish grey; neck emerald-green 

 glossed with violet and green, a white patch (no complete ring) 

 on each side of neck. Wings grey with white bar, conspicuous 

 in flight. Tail dark slaty grey ; under parts reddish purple. 

 Bill orange. Legs and feet bright red. Length 17 in. Female, 

 smaller and slightly duller. Young, at first have no white 

 neck patches, and are duller than adults. 



Language. The well-known plaintive " coo-roo-coo-coo." 



Habits. Flight rapid and direct. When alarmed it dashes 

 off its perch with loud clappings of its wings ; on the ground 

 it walks deliberately. In the love season the male shows off 

 before the female, puffing out his feathers, bowing, and raising 

 his tail in a spasmodic manner. At this time it also indulges 

 in parachute-like flights, rising and falling through the air very 

 gracefully. In autumn and winter gregarious. A most voraci- 

 ous feeder. Like all Doves, the callow young are fed on a curdy 

 secretion (Pigeon's milk) brought up from parent's crop ; at a 

 later stage on regurgitated food. 



