708 



10 



" I have previously alluded to the texture and the colour of these eggs. 



" I have seen a MS. list of birds from the German naturalist Herr Hoffmansegg, then 

 resident in Archangel, from which it appears that Mergus albellus occurs in that neighbourhood, 

 which is considerably more southerly than Muonioniska, or Sodankyla. As I did not hear of it 

 on the north or north-east coast of Norway, and as it is not known to breed in Sweden, I should 

 be inclined to suppose it generally an eastern and northern bird. 



" It is worthy of note, that the very pale colour of the down of the Smew seems to be con- 

 nected with its choosing holes for breeding. No bird of the duck kind that has white down, as 

 far as I know, places its eggs in an exposed situation. 



"The Goosander, Golden-eye, Sheldrake, birds differing much from one another, have all 

 white down, and all lay their eggs in holes of trees when such are to be found, whilst one of 

 them at least has well-coloured eggs." 



Mr. Sabanaeff found it breeding in the Ural ; and, as above stated, Mr. Jacovleff says that 

 it breeds numerously near Astrachan. I possess eggs from the Ural, collected by Mr. Sabanaeff, 

 and also two of those collected in Lapland by Dr. Soldan, and sent to the Museum at Hel- 

 singfors. All these eggs closely resemble those of the Wigeon, but can be distinguished by 

 their smoother and more polished surface. 



The specimens figured are an old male in full plumage and a very old female ; and on an 

 extra Plate I propose figuring the old female obtained with the eggs by Mr. Wolley, which I 

 trust to receive from the Norwich Museum for that purpose in a few days, and shall figure with 

 it the young in down received from Mr. Sabanaeff. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, d . Norfolk coast, March 1855 (A. F. Sealy). b, 6 ad. Dutch coast, December 1870. c, 6 ad. Cuzniechiha, 

 Archangel, May 16th, 1873 (Piottuch). d, $? Near Moscow (Dode). e,f,pulli. Kirnschensk, Russia, 

 June 18th, 1872 (Sabanaeff). 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a, d , b, 5 . Leadenhall Market, London, December 1872 (Burton). 



