164 



On the Ornithology of Wills [Anatida]. 



as it is a thoroughly Arctic bird, inhabiting the most northern t 

 lands and seas to which our Polar expeditions have penetrated ; and ! 

 as it is a true denizen of the ocean, seldom coming inland ; it is j 

 necessarily much more scarce in England than either of its congeners 

 previously described : and yet hardly to be accounted a rare bird 

 in Britain : as it is (though in small numbers) a regular winter 

 visitor to our northern coasts. It is remarkable for the elongated 

 tail-feathers, whence it derives its name. 



"Golden-Eye/' {Fuligula clang ula.) This very active sprightly 

 and withal beautiful bird with a remarkable brilliancy of eye, 

 (which is of a golden yellow colour, whence its name) is tolerably 

 common on the coast, though rarely seen in the interior of the 

 country. I have often met with it on the shores of the Wash, 

 but have never seen it far from the sea. I have however one 

 undoubted instance of its occurrence in Wiltshire from the pen of 

 Mr. Marsh, who wrote that a specimen of this bird had been killed 

 on the river at Salisbury in 1830; and had been preserved at the 

 house of Mrs. Bath : and it is most probable that other instances 

 which have not come to my notice have occurred. This species 

 breeds in Lapland in holes in the trees, often at a considerable 

 height above ground, and I have eggs in my collection taken from 

 such a situation by my lamented friend Mr. John Wolley, who 

 was so keen and accurate an observer, and did so much for Orni- 

 thology, and had already earned for himself a European reputation, 

 as a master in Natural Science, and would undoubtedly (had his 

 life been spared) have proved one of the first Naturalists of the day. 



"Smew." (Mergus albellus.) Though admitted at the end of the 

 great family of Ducks, and partaking of their general habits and 

 appearance, the Mergansers, (of which this is one) differs from 

 them, in being provided with a beak, both mandibles of which are 

 toothed or serrated, the saw like teeth inclining backwards, the 

 better to prevent the escape of the slippery prey. The form of 

 the beak is also long and extremely narrow, and it is terminated 

 with a very strong hooked nail. Armed with this admirable 

 implement, the Mergansers have no difficulty in supplying them- 

 selves with fish, which constitutes the bulk of their food : moreover 



