pp 



124 



LAMELLIROSTRAL SVVIMMKUS — ANSEUE8. 



the small cnsoks, and was espeoially abundant during tlio season of its migrations. Two 

 cxamplt's were taken in St^pteniber, 18Gli, near Fj)rt Hcsolution by Mr. J. Loekhart. 



The eggs of this specit's aro of a pure ivory-wliito, staiiuul occasionally with a 

 neutral tint, and arc of a rounded oval, almost globular, form. They measure 2.05 

 inches by 1.70 (Smithsonian Institution, No. lo,5()0; Hkkskckkb, Iowa) ; 2.15 inches 

 by 1.75 (No. 8745; Samuklh, Maine) ; 2.05 inches by 1.75 (No. 9785; IJoakdman, New 

 Brunswick). 



Note. — The Smew {Mergellus alhellus) has been attriliutccl to North Amcricn by Wilson, 

 Addiiboii, and Nuttall, but appai-eiitly upon erroneous data. In view, however, of the posfli- 

 bility of its occurrence in this country, it may not be aniiss to give here the characters of the 

 genjia and species, with the principal synonyniatic references : — 



Genus MERQBLLUS, Selby. 



Mcrgellus, "SELnv, 1840," Gray (type, Mergus albellm, Linn.), 



Char. The peculiarities of the genus Mergellus consist in the very short bill (the culnien Ijeing 

 shorter than the tarsus), which has the serrations nnich like those of Liiphodijtes, only hner and 

 more numerous ; the bill is very deep through the base, its greate-l depth being e(pial to about 

 half the length of the culmen ; the nostril very large, broadly oval, and situated near the middle of 

 the maxilla. The tai-sus is about two thirds as long as the middle toe, with claw. The coloration 

 and crest remind one strongly of Lnphodijtes ; but the latter is smaller and less compressed, while 

 there is much more white in the plumage. 



il 



MergelluB albellus. 



THE SHEW. 



Mergtis albellus, LiXN. S. N. ed. 10, I. 1758, 12!) ; cd. 12, I. 1766, 209. — Wim. Am. Om. VIIF, 

 1814, 126, pi. 69. — Bona 1'. Obs. Wils. 182.5, 250. — Nuttau,, Man. II. 1834, 467. — Aid. 

 Orn. Biog. IV. 1838, 350, pi. 347 ( ? fig'd from spcciinen snid to have been obtnincd at New 

 Orleans ; ^, from a Euroi)ean skin) ; Synop. 1839 ; B. Am. VI. 1843, 408, pi. 414. 



ilergellus albellus, Sei.by, Brit. Orn. 1840. — Baihd, B. N. Am. 1858, 817 ; Cat. N. Am. B. 1859, 

 no. 614. 



Mergus minutus, Linn. S. N. ed. 12, I. 1758, 129 j ed. 12, I. 1766, 209 (=young). 



Mcrgus albultis miA pamimiicus, Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist. Nat. 1769, 71, 72. 



Mergus glacialis, BiiiJNN. Om. Bor. 1764, 24. 



Hap Palajaretic Region ; accidental in Eastern North America (" New Orleans ; " Audubon) ! 



Adult viale : Prevailing color pure white. A patch covering the lores, and narrowly surround- 

 ing the eyes, deep black, with a greenish reflection ; under portion of the crest glossy greenish 

 black ; back, rump, anterior and inner lesser wing-coverts, greater coverts, secondaries, two narrow 

 bars across the side of the jugulum and Ijreast (the posterior one strongly curved, in crescent form), 

 deep black ; upper tail-coverts and tail, ash-gray ; teitials silvery gray ; primaries blackish dusky ; 

 sides and flanks finely undulated with dark grayish. Bill and feet dusky (in skin), plumbeous 

 in life ; iris deep red. Wing, about 7.75 inches ; culmen, 1.10 ;. tarsus, 1.30 ; middle toe, 1.90. 

 Adult female : Upper part of the head, including whole lores, reddish brown ; rest of head, with 

 neck (except nape), breast, abdomen, and crissum, pure white ; upper parts generally, sides, and 

 flanks, cinereous, darker on the back ; wings much as in the male ; jugulum tinged with pale 

 cinereous. Size a little smuller than the male. ^ 



This species — known in Great Britain as the Smew, and as the Harle Piette in 

 francs — has small claim to a place in the faima of North America. The only 

 instance on record, so far as I am aware, of its occurrence, is the claim of Audubon 

 to have obtained a single specimen, and that a female, on Lake Barataria, near New 

 Orleans, in 1817. Wilson, indeed, speaks of it as being common on the coast of New 



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