Anseres 163 



and the sites chosen are rabbits' burrows, cavities among 

 rocks, and patches of coarse herbage or other thick 

 cover. Moreover, the eggs are greenish buff less green 

 when incubated and are seldom as many as a dozen. 

 Otherwise the habits of the two species are similar, 

 and the flesh is equally uneatable. The present bird 

 differs in coloration, for it has a patch of white feathers 

 margined with black on each side near the breast, 

 which is ruddy brown streaked with black, and less 

 white on the wing, while the crest is long and hair-like, 

 especially in the male. The brown female has the head 

 red-brown instead of black and a more distinct black 

 bar on the white wing-patch. 



The Smew (Mergdlus albellus) occurs pretty regu- 

 larly on our coasts in winter, but more commonly on 

 the east than on the west; the females and young 

 penetrate to considerable distances inland, but the 

 males mostly keep out at sea. This species is now 

 known to breed from Lapland east to Bering Sea; it 

 builds in hollow trees or native boxes and lays about 

 ten rather small cream-coloured eggs on a mass of white 

 down. The bird itself is small for a "Sawbill," with 

 a fine white crest, and black and white plumage else- 

 where. The female is duller, while her head is red- 

 brown with no crest. 



ORDER IX. COLUMB^E 



In Pigeons and Doves the bill varies in strength, 

 but is always more or less swollen and hardened, with 

 a soft membrane or " cere " at its base ; the feet are 

 short, and may be feathered, as in several domesti- 

 cated races ; the toes are without webs, and all on one 



112 



