356 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



THE SMEW. 



WHITE NUX. 



(Mergus Albellus, Linn. Harlc piettc, Temm.) 



THE Smew is about the size of a Wigeon : the 

 bill is nearly two inches long, of a dusky blue, 

 thickest at the base, and tapering into a more 

 slender and narrow shape towards the point : it 

 is toothed like those of the rest of this tribe : the 

 irides are dark : on each side of the head, an 

 oval-shaped black patch, glossed with green, is 

 extended from the corners of the mouth over the 

 eyes : under side of the crest black : the other 

 parts of the head and neck white : the breast, 

 belly, and vent are also white, .excepting a curved 

 black stroke, pointing forward from the shoulders 

 on each side of the upper part of the breast, 

 which, on the lower part, has also similar strokes 



