THE MERGANSERS. 237 



The female is about the same size as the male, and 

 has the same peculiar bill and sharp-pointed tail; but 

 differs slightly in the colour of the plumage, the cheeks 

 being buff, and the neck and breast a dull brown and 

 grey; the under parts white, shaded with ash colour. 

 The feet and legs are dusky in both. 



The Smew {^Mergellus albellus) is well known in our 

 own country, and in the form of its bill, its general 

 appearance, and habits, may be considered intermediate 

 between the above sub-family and the mergansers, 

 which follow. It is a handsome and beautifully marked 

 bird, although simply black and white. 



It breeds in the far north, and appears in the Gulf 

 of St. Lawrence only in winter. It is a difficult bird to 

 get near, but is of no value except to the naturalist or 

 collector, the flesh being poor and fishy. 



The Hooded Merganser {Lophodytes cucuUatus) is 

 also a very handsome bird, but its flesh is very little 

 superior to that of the other. 



This merganser, though an accidental visitor to 

 England, is really a North American bird, breeding in 

 the extreme north of that continent, and migrating to 

 every part of it in winter; appearing rather to prefer 

 inland waters to the sea. It has a beautiful crest of 

 black and white feathers, which it has the power of 

 elevating and depressing at will. The head, neck, and 



