MERGUS ALBELLUS.- 
SMEW. 
Generic GHARACTEfi. See Mergus Merganser. 
M jERGus alhellue ; crista dependente;, occipite nigro^ 
corpore albo, dorso temporibusque nigris^ 
alis variegatis. 
Smew. Crest pendent; hind head black; body white; 
back and sides of the bead black ; wings 
variegated. 
Mergus Albellus. Lin. Syst. v. 1. p,209. GmeL 
St/St. V. 2. p. 547. Ind. Orn, v. 2, p. 831. 
Mergus major cirrhatus, Raii Syn. p. 135. 
Le pi:tit Harle Huppjs la Piette. Hist. d'Ois. v. 8. 
p. 275. P/.EnZ. 449. 
Hable Piette. Temm. Mann. d'Orn. ed. 2. p. 887. 
Smew, or Whjlte Nun. jBv. Zool. Svo. ed. v. 2, 
p. 216. Lath. Syn. v. 6. p. 428. Ih. Sup. 
p. 271. lb. S^p. 2. p. 338, lb. in Lin. 
Trans, v. 4. p. 124. pi. 16./. 3. 4. Lewin 
Br. Birds, v. 6. t. 234. Mont. Orn. Diet. 
lb. Sup. Bewick* s Bi\ Birds, pt. 2. p. 238. 
JL HIS is the most abundant pf the Mergus family 
that fesort to Gre^t Britain, frequenting extensive lakes 
and rivers during the winter, usually in small flocks pf from 
four to six birds ; they are very shy and extremely difficult 
to approach, being ever on the alert to take wing or dive, 
either of which they practice on the slightest alarm. In 
severe seasons the Smew has been taken in the nets of 
fishernien in the Thames ; two males were taken alive in 
the winter of 1819-20, in Bow Creek; but though abun- 
dantly supplied with fopd, refused all sustenance, and pe- 
rished; they had attainefl the full adult plumage, but one 
wag without the elegant pendant crest. 
The Smew feeds on fishj molvisca, and sea weed % ip the 
