THE SMEW. 



Mergus arbellus, Linnaeus. 

 Plate 52. 



The Smew is a rather late winter visitor to our islands, most commonly found 

 on the eastern coasts of Great Britain, and annually visiting the southern coast of 

 England, and, according to Millais, " it is not uncommon on the Inner Hebrides, 

 but rare on the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands." 



During the breeding season the Smew inhabits Northern Europe and Asia, 

 ranging in winter as far south as the Mediterranean, also to India, China, and 

 Japan. 



The nidification of this species was long a mystery, until Wooley obtained the 

 first eggs through one of his collectors, in Swedish Lapland, in June 1857. ^^e 

 cream-coloured eggs, which closely resemble the Wigeon's, generally vary in 

 number from six to nine. 



During its stay with us in winter the Smew usually haunts the salt-water 

 estuaries, occasionally coming inland to sheets of fresh water and rivers, the 

 beautiful full-plumaged adult males being less frequently seen, and much more 

 difficult to approach than the less wary females and immature birds. 



The food consists chiefly of small fishes, especially sand-eels when on the sea, 

 which the bird has no difficulty in obtaining, as it is an accomplished diver. 



As a rule, it is a silent bird. 



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