GOOSANDER." Mergus Castor. 



SMEW. Mergellus albellw. 



The nest of this species is placed near water, under the shelter of long grass or the 

 hollow of a decayed tree, and is made of grasses and roots, and lined with down. The 

 eggs are generally six or seven in number, and their colour is very pale buff. In Lapland 

 the eggs are regularly taken by the natives, who always leave a few in order to keep up 

 the breed. 



The Goosander is a handsome bird ; the head and upper parts of the neck are deep 

 shining green, with a sort of tuft on the back of the neck. The back is black, fading to 

 dark grey near the tail. The wing-coverts are white, as is the front of the wing, the 

 primaries being black. The lower part of the neck, breast, and abdomen are soft warm 

 buff, the bill is scarlet, and the legs reddish orange. In the female the head and neck 

 are reddish brown, and the back grey. The length of the bird rather exceeds two feet. 



THE pretty little SMEW is another of our winter visitors, and is a very common bird, 

 being found not only upon the seashore, but frequenting inland lakes and ponds. 



It is rather a shy bird, and not very easily approached, especially as it is a swift and 

 active diver, vanishing below the surface at the least alarm, and emerging at some distance. 



