Smew 
121 
Company, and a female said to have been obtained by Audubon in Louisiana in 1817, are 
the only two records from America. Both of these are, however, not above suspicion.] 
Habits. — In general habits the Smew appears to resemble the Red-breasted Merganser, 
except that it seems to have a greater preference for large sheets of fresh water and brackish 
estuaries. It is seldom found in the sea itself unless on migration, by constant disturbance 
or the effects of ice. 
Smews as a rule come to us very late in the season, often not until the middle of 
December, probably delaying their southward journey on the brackish waters of the 
northern coasts until actually forced to leave by severe conditions. They generally arrive 
in small parties of three to eight and make their winter home in some estuary from which they 
can retreat at any time to the open seas or bays. They are very shy and restless birds, and 
though occasionally seen are not often shot, unless they come into enclosed lakes or rivers 
where their retreat may be cut off. I have never yet killed a Smew, though I have seen a 
good many at different times, as I have always found them on large lakes or open estuaries, 
where they would not permit the approach of a sailing-boat. I have "set-to" them in a 
punt twice, usually a sure method of approaching diving ducks, but even with the utmost 
care, I have found them gifted with wonderful sight and quickness to take alarm. 
In Northern Europe they are said to consort chiefly with Golden-Eyes, which is another 
way of saying that they have intelligence of a high order. Throughout Germany they 
frequent small rivers and stay there until the ice breaks up, diving in any open places to 
obtain their food. 
Naumann {Nahirgesch. Vdgel Mitteleuropas, x. p. 277) says : 
" The Smew does not seem to like the open sea, and it is seen almost always near land, in summer 
in deep, narrow gulfs running far inland, in estuaries, or in land lakes near and on other pieces of open 
water, less often on salt than on fresh. With us in the winter it most often keeps to the rivers and 
streams both in flat and hilly country, wooded or quite open country, and from there it visits other open 
places of the lakes, ponds, brooks, or even quite small springs. Should the cold become more severe, 
and should therefore fewer places remain free from ice, then they go the round from one to the other and 
betake themselves as soon as they are disturbed to the next place and continue thus doing this daily for 
weeks, and repeat this series of changes, though not at regular intervals, until the cold weather either 
forces them farther south-west or the approach of milder weather opens again larger places for them on 
the rivers and permits them to remain there. They can endure the most severe cold quite comfortably, 
and it is only the breaking up of the ice on the rivers which they hate, particularly if the so-called 
ground-ice is driving hard ; in that case they take refuge on the open places of quiet water in the 
neighbourhood of the former and fly from one to another. In time of need they do not despise an 
occasional stay on the smallest springs and brooks, and in our neighbourhood often appear at such times 
quite close to the villages." 
The male Smew may easily be recognised on the wing by its black and white plumage 
and its swift Merganser flight. The only bird with which it can be confused is the male 
Golden-Eye ; but the shape and colouring of the head of the two species are so distinct that 
they can easily be distinguished even at a great distance. The head and neck of the two are 
also held quite differently. 
Naumann thus remarks on the association of the two species {torn, cit., p. 277): 
*' This behaviour is shown by smaller or larger companies even more than by isolated birds ; but as 
they \i.e. Smews] willingly join with diving duck, particularly with the Golden-Eyes, and although the 
latter are not quite so shy, yet the former often choose the latter as leaders, with the result that it is rather 
VOL. II. O 
