Smew 
Mergus albellus^ Linnsus 
Mergus albellus, Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. x. i. p. 129 (1758). 
Mergus cristatus minor, Briss., Orn., vi. p. 243 (1760). 
Merganser stellatus, Briss., torn, cit., i. p. 252 (1760). 
Mergus minutus. Linn., torn, cit., ed. xii. p. 209, No, 6 (1766). 
Mergus albulus, Scop., Ann. L Hist. Nat., p. 71, No. 91 (1769). 
Mergus pannonicus, Scop., torn, cit., p. 72, No. 92 (1769). 
Merganser albellus (L.), Bodd., Table de PI. Enl., p. 27 (1783). 
La Piette ou le petit Hark huppe, Buff on, Ois., ix. p. 164 (1784). 
Le Harle etoile, Buffon, torn, cit., p. 166 (1784). 
Mergus albellus (L.), Selby, Cat. Gen. Subgen. of Birds, p. 47 (1840). 
Local Names. — Smew, Smee, White Wigeon, Weasel Head, Weasel Wigeon, Vare, Nun (female) {English) ; 
Petit Harle huppe, Piette {French) ; Der Kleine Sager [German) ; Pesciajola, Smergo, Pescareu Annia 
pescadura {Italian) ; Strallera branca {Sard) ; Serra {Maltese) ; Nonnetje, Scheft {Dutch) ; Nonne- 
Hvidskaekke {Danish) ; Hvid Fiskand {Norwegian) ; Salskraken, Salknipan {Swedish) ; Uinilo, 
Uivelo, Ungilo {Finnish) ; Krahal-Lutok, Paganka {Russian); Belie {Slovenish); Kis buko {Hungarian) ; 
Ronac h\]e\\ {Croatian); Morcak bily {Czechish); Tracz Dniestrowka {Polish); Bech de serra petit 
{Spanish). 
Egg. — Usually 6 to 9 in number, but 10 have been recorded {Zeit.f. OoL, 1897, pp. 3, 22). 
They are creamy in colour and smooth in texture (notes on the texture and distinction 
between these eggs and those of Wigeons are to be found in Ooth. JVolleyana, ii. p. 622). 
Average size of 107 eggs, 52.42x37.46 mm., max. 58x40.5 (Goebel) : min. 47.7x34. 
They are smaller on the average than Wigeons' : decidedly shorter as a rule, and not quite so 
broad ; but the measurements of the species overlap (F. C. R. Jourdain). Average weight of 
49 eggs 3.79 grms., varying from 3.42 to 4.04 grms., according to Goebel. Wigeons' eggs 
are lighter, averaging (68 eggs) 3.14 grms. and ranging from 2.76 to 3.48 grms., according 
to the same writer. 
Full clutches may be taken in N. Europe from the last week of May to the middle 
of June. 
Down. — The down is small and greyish-white, freely intermixed with fine white 
feathers. Fragments of rotten wood and moss may also be found mixed with the down at 
the bottom of the nest hole or nesting box. 
Young in Down. — Dresser's description (Birds of Europe, vi. p. 700) is as follows : 
" Upper parts, including the sides of the head below the eye, but only the back of the neck, 
dark blackish-brown, darkest on the crown and the lower part of the back ; at the base of 
the wing-joint a white spot, and another close to it, but rather lower down the back, and on 
each side of the rump another white spot ; below the eye a very small white spot ; under 
parts white ; breast and flanks pale greyish or sooty-brown. One young bird, which can 
only be two or three days old, has the bill so slightly serrated that the serrations can only 
be seen when very closely looked into ; but another, which is a few days older, has the 
serrations very distinct." 
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