818 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Bill and feet dull red. Length 23 inches ; extent 35 ; wing 1(H ; 

 bill at front If. 



The Merganser is chiefly found, in India, on rivers within the 

 Himalayas, in small parties. I have frequently seen it on the great 

 Rungeet in Sikkim, and also in rivers in Kumaon, and on the 

 Ganges at Hurdwar. One instance only is recorded of its occur- 

 rence in Central India, it having been procured by Tickell at 

 Chybassa. Captain Smyth recently gave me two very large con- 

 cretions found in one of these birds, but I have not yet had them 

 examined. It is said to breed on holes of trees. 



The next species, from its small size, and shorter bill, as well 

 distinct mode of colouration, is separated as Mercjellus. 



Gen. Mergellus. 



Char. — Bill shorter, and somewhat wider than in Mergus, the 

 tip much less hooked ; teeth numerous and prominent in the lower 

 mandible. Of small size. Pied, black and white, tail of 16 feathers. 



973. Mergellus albellus, Linn^us. 



Mergus apud Linnaeus — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 387. 



The Smew. 



Descr. — Male, a large patch on each side of the base of the 

 bill enclosing the eyes, and another longitudinal one on the occiput, 

 black glossed with green ; the rest of the head, occipital crest, and 

 neck white ; back, some of the lesser wing-coverts, and the pri- 

 maries black ; scapulars white, edged with black on the outer webs ; 

 secondaries and greater wing-coverts black, tipped with white ; 

 some of the lesser wing-coverts white ; upper tail-coverts and tail 

 bluish-grey ; all the lower parts white, with two crescentic bands 

 of black advancing from the shoulders, one nearly encircling the 

 lower part of the breast, the other the upper part of the breast; 

 flanks and thigh-coverts with wavy black lines. 



Bill bluish-grey ; irides brown ; legs plumbeous. Length 16 to 

 17 inches ; wing 7| ; tail 3 ; bill at front 1£ ; tarsus 1£. 



The female has the crown, cheeks, and occiput reddish-brown, 

 the crest shorter than in the male ; back, upper tail-coverts, and 

 tail deep ashy-grey ; wings as in the male, but the dark parts grey 



