THE SMEW. 241 



These birds feed on fish, of which they destroy an immense 

 number. They also commit serious depredations on the spawning 

 beds. They are able to accumulate a large quantity of air in the 

 trachea, and therefore can remain some time under water without 

 breathing ; this assists them to remain under the water when in 

 search of their prey. Their power of locomotion when submerged 

 is so great that they can traverse a considerable distance before they 

 reappear upon the surface. The activity they display in pursuit of 

 their food is very great; for, in order to accelerate their speed in 

 swimming, they make use of their wings as well as of their feet. The 

 Goosander swallows fish head first ; however, it sometimes happens 

 that the body of their prey is too bulky to be easily gorged ; they 

 have to submit to the temporary inconvenience of gradual absorp- 

 tion ; thus, sometimes the digestion of the fish's head has commenced 

 whilst the tail is still projecting from the bill. 



Their flight is generally without elevation, but rapid and pro- 

 longed. On land their gait is awkward and tottering. They generally 

 inhabit temperate regions during the winter, and in spring return to 

 the high latitudes, where are their breeding places. They lay from 

 eight to fourteen whitish-coloured eggs, either on the shore between 

 two large stones, or in thickets of grass on • the edge of lakes and 

 rivers : occasionally a hollow in a tree is selected ; but their nesting- 

 place is invariably near water, and is composed of dry grass, sedges, 

 fibrous roots, and other similar materials, with a lining of down 

 plucked from their breast. 



The Goosander is a regular visitor, in winter, to our coasts and 

 inland lakes. It breeds in North Uist and others of the Outer 

 Hebrides. Its flesh is unedible except when young. 



The Smew (Mergus albellus). 



Like its congeners, the Smew (Fig. 90) is a native of the northern 

 regions of both continents, retiring southward as winter approaches, 

 and spreading in great numbers over Germany, France, and Italy, 

 returning northward in April. Montague says it is plentiful on the 

 south coast of England, but that it is not known to breed there. It 

 is of elegant form, smaller than the Goosander, 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 gradually 

 narrowing crest ; the wings short, rather narrow, slightly convex, and 

 pointed — when closed reaching to within an inch and a half from the 

 end of the tail. The male bird, at maturity, has a great spot of 



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