MERGANSER. 21 1 



as far as the middle, from whence to the bottom it continues of nearly 

 equal dimensions ; the texture consists of completely bony rings, 

 with scarcely any cartilage intervening; at Ihe bottom is a bony 

 cavity as in other Mergansers, but smaller in proportion, and differ- 

 ing in shape, the greater expanse being from side to side ; whereas 

 in the others it is almost upwards and downwards; on one side is a 

 round hole, covered by a drum-like membrane, and on the opposite, 

 an oval, smooth, hollow bone, uniting with it; from the bottom arise 

 the two bronchiae.* 



The Smew is seen in England only in the winter; at which season, 

 it is sometimes met with in the southern parts, but only in severe 

 seasons; in France, about Picardy, it is called La Piette. Similar 

 to this appellation, we have heard it called in Kent the Magpie Diver. 

 On the Continent we find it as far southward as Carniola ;t is com- 

 mon in Iceland, at which place, and other Arctic Regions, it passes 

 the summer, and where it probably breeds with the other Mergan- 

 sers, as it has been observed to migrate in company with those birds, 

 several kinds of Ducks, &c. in their course up the Wolga, in 

 February.}: It inhabits also America, having been sent from New 

 York,§ where it is migratory, as in Europe. Birds of this Genus 

 are occasionally met with in the London markets, but are seldom so 

 well flavoured as those of the Duck kind ; and we have there seen in 

 particular the Smew, in its several varieties of plumage, but rarely 

 the adult bird. The Smew feeds chiefly on shrimps, and we have 

 found both these and also the fish called Miller's Thumb, || in the 

 stomach ; but in one met with in Ireland, the end of August 1786, the 

 stomach was distended with shrimps, to the utmost it was capable. 



* Lin. Trans. V. iv. pi. xvi. f. 3, 4. There is no enlargement of the trachea in the 

 female. 



t Hasselquist says, as far south as lat. 37. having found it in the Island of Tenos, or 

 Tino, in the Archipelago : probably he gave his bird the name of Mergus tinus from this 

 circumstance. 



J Dec. russ. ii. 145. § Arct. Zool. \\ Cottus Gobio, Lin. 



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