ILLUSTRATIONS 
OF 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
NATATORES. 
ANATIDM. 
PLATE CCLXXL 
SMEW. 
MERGUS ALBELLUS. 
The Smew is a periodical winter visitant in Great Britain, 
more frequently met with in the southern and eastern coun¬ 
ties than in the northern ; their sensitiveness of cold causing 
them to prefer localities of moderate temperature, and 
w'ater free from ice. A fine specimen of this species has 
been for some years kept on the ornamental lake in St. 
James'’s Park, London, where we have greatly enjoyed the 
sight of it, as its position on the water is exeedingly elegant. 
The geographical distribution of the Smew extends over 
Europe, Asia, and America, inhabiting during the summer 
months, the northern parts, such as the Icy Sea, and the 
mouths of the rivers that run into it; the entire extent of 
VOL. VII. 
B 
