The Mergansers. 419 



in Northern Europe on more than one 

 occasion. Mr. Wolley's account of the 

 breeding of this bird is unfortunately 

 much too lengthy to be reproduced here, 

 but Mr. Seebohm gives us a description 

 of the breeding haunts of the Smew in 

 Russia which I shall quote. He says : 

 " Harvie-Brown and I were fortunate 

 enough to secure eggs of the Smew in 

 North-east Russia. A few miles to the 

 south of the Arctic circle, in the valley 

 of the Petchora, is the small town of 

 Haberiki, containing about a dozen houses. 

 The timber for about a mile round has 

 been cleared, but beyond the country 

 consists of alternate lake, swamp, and 

 forest. Grand old pines and larches, with 

 stems three or four feet in diameter, 

 conceal charming little alder and willow- 

 fringed pools, and fallen trunks, covered 

 with moss and lichen, provide excellent 

 cover for watching the Ducks swimming 

 fearlessly in these little paradises. The 

 Smew is the greatest ornament of these 

 picturesque little spots, but is not quite 

 so common as Teal, Wigeon, and Pintail. 

 We did not succeed in taking the nest 

 of the Smew ; but having commissioned 

 some of the villagers to bring us eggs 

 and down of Ducks, we were delighted 



