the Ionian Islands during the two winters that I passed 

 in that part of the world. In these last-named localities 

 we frequently met with young Smews in narrow inlets, 

 where approach was easy, but their elders took remark- 

 ably good care of themselves, and it was only by chance 

 that we ever got within shot of an adult. The flight of 

 the Smew much resembles and is quite as swift as that 

 of the Teal, and, in common with the other members of 

 the genus Mergus, it is a strong and rapid diver. I 

 have of late years obtained several of this species alive ; 

 but I cannot say that they thrive very well on my " fowl- 

 ponds," though they take readily enough to a diet of 

 chopped fish and meat, and are especially fond of frogs. 

 Two adult males, now in my possession, have become 

 very tame, and come out of the water to be fed toge- 

 ther with a heterogeneous assemblage of Cranes, Storks, 

 Herons, Ducks, Pochards, and Goosanders. Mr. Wolley's 

 most interesting account of his discovery of the breeding- 

 habits of the Smew in Lapland was originally published 

 in 'The Ibis' for 1859, and is quoted at considerable 

 length by the editor of the fourth edition of ' Yarrell,' 

 vol. iv. pp. 501-506. It is sufficient to say here that 

 this species is stated, loc. supr. cit., to breed in the 

 northern districts of Russia and in suitable localities in 

 the valley of the Volga, and along the whole line of the 

 Ural Mountains, as well as in Northern Asia. In winter 

 it ranges from the coasts of Portugal and Morocco to 

 Japan, China, and the northern portions of India ; in 

 my own experience it is very much more frequent in the 

 eastern than the western districts of the Mediterranean. 



