Birds of Britain 



greenish drab and are never of that creamy tint which dis- 

 tinguishes those of the former species. In these Ducks the 

 male apparently helps the female in attending on the young 

 and in catching the small fry on which they live. 



Although smaller, this species is not unlike the Goosander ; 

 the male may always be recognised by his reddish breast, 

 streaked with black ; the wing patch is white, barred with 

 black, and on the breast at the point of the wing there is a 

 conspicuous tuft of white feathers, with black margins ; the 

 long falcated inner scapulars are black. The female has a 

 distinct black bar across the wing patch, but in other 

 respects, except size, closely resembles the Duck Goosander. 

 Length 24 in.; wing 9 '5 in. 



THE SMEW 



Mergus albellus, Linnaeus 



This species, the smallest and scarcest of the Sawbills, 

 only comes to us in the winter, its breeding haunts being 

 near the limit of tree growth throughout Northern Europe. 

 It may be found on inland rivers and lakes, as well as in 

 sheltered bays and estuaries on the coast. Immature 

 examples with a red head, known as " Eed-headed Smews," 

 far out-number the adults, and old males in full plumage 

 are rarely seen. 



This is one of the species that occupies the boxes in 

 Sweden and Lapland, and the discovery of its eggs, fifty years 

 ago, was due to the energy and perseverance of an English- 



266 



