210 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS.. 



There were Cormorants stretching; their necks as 



they flew; 

 And the White Nun of beauty, nam'd vulgarly Smew. 

 The Dun-Diver, too, from a far northern lake, 

 With the Goosander came of the glee to partake. 



neck, and upper part of the breast and wings glossy black ; tail 

 cinereous. Feeds on fish ; flesh rancid. Found in our rivers 

 and lakes in severe winters, but retires to more northern lati- 

 tudes to breed. It is said to be found in the Hebrides in 

 summer, and to continue in the Orkneys the whole year. It is 

 found also on the European continent, in Asia, Greenland, and 

 some parts of America. 



The" Minutus, Minute-Merganser, Minute-Smew, Weesel 

 Coot, Red-headed Smew, or Lough- Diver, is about the size of a 

 teal ; colour brown ash, beneath white. Not often met with 

 in the south of England, and then only in severe winters. 



The Senator, Red-Breasted Merganser, Red-breasted 

 Goosander, Lesser-toothed Diver, or Serula, has a pendent crest, 

 breast varied with reddish; length twenty inches; seen occa- 

 sionally in the south of England ; more frequently in the 

 north; said to breed in Holland; found also iu Russia and 

 Siberia. 



The Castor, Dun-Diver, or Sparkling-Fowl, is twenty-five 

 inches long; found in the north of England ; and in Germany, 

 and in the lakes in the more northern parts of the world. 



The Albellus, Smew, or White-Nun, has the body white; back 

 and temples black ; wings variegated ; rather larger that a 

 teal; found occasionally in this country; but mostly inhabits 

 the northern lakes. This is the most beautiful of the whole 

 tribe. 



The Imperialis, or Imperial Goosander, is varied with 

 black, brown, and grey; size of a goose ; inhabits Sardinia. 



