THE SMEW. 



261 



North of the Humber it is a rare bird. Montagu says it is plentiful 

 on the south coast, but that it is not known to breed with us. It is of 

 elegant form, smaller than the Merganser, being only fifteen inches 

 in length. The plumage of the head is full, soft, and blended ; 

 the upper part of the head and nape elongated, forming a gra- 

 dually narrowing crest ; the wings short, rather narrow, slightly 

 convex, and pointed — when closed reaching to withia an inch and a 

 half from the end of the tail. The male bird, at maturity, has a 

 great spot of greenish black on each side of the biU, and a longi- 

 tudinal one on the occiput. The tufted crest, neck, scapidars, 



Fig. 96.— The Smew (Mergus albellm). 



small coverts of the wing, and all the lower parts are pure white ; 

 the upper part of the back, the two crescents under the sides of 

 the breast, and the edges of the scapulars are deep black ; the 

 tail is ash-coloured ; sides and thighs are varied with ash-coloured 

 zigzags ; bill, tarsi, and toes are bluish ash ; webs black, and the 

 iris brown. In habit the Smew greatly resembles the Goosan- 

 ders. 



The Groose {Anser) forms a special genus among the Palmipedes. 

 It is a bird which is often spoken of with contempt, though very 

 improperly, for few birds are able to afford mankiad the amount 

 of service rendered by the despised Goose. 



