. Birds. Birds. MEKGTTS. 467 near Ludiana, in the neighbourhood of Delhi, near Eoorkee, and lastly near Hurdoi between Lucknow and Bareilly. The specimen from the last locality, shot January 22nd, 1896, was in full moult .and incapable of flight. Habits, Sfc. The habits of this bird are very peculiar. It is a freshwater form, more given to diving than to flying, and it swims rapidly with its curious stiff tail erect at right angles to its body. It lays 7 to 9 dull white eggs in a nest amongst reeds or grass, and the eggs are remarkable for their rough, coarse surface. Subfamily MERGINiE. Bill
. Birds. Birds. MEKGTTS. 467 near Ludiana, in the neighbourhood of Delhi, near Eoorkee, and lastly near Hurdoi between Lucknow and Bareilly. The specimen from the last locality, shot January 22nd, 1896, was in full moult .and incapable of flight. Habits, Sfc. The habits of this bird are very peculiar. It is a freshwater form, more given to diving than to flying, and it swims rapidly with its curious stiff tail erect at right angles to its body. It lays 7 to 9 dull white eggs in a nest amongst reeds or grass, and the eggs are remarkable for their rough, coarse surface. Subfamily MERGINiE. Bill subconicalor snbcylindrical, not depressed; the tip hooked; lamellae replaced by tooth-like serrations; feet large, hind toe â broadly lobed. Key to tJie Gene/ra. â a. Culmen not longer than tarsus; tail of 16 feathers Mbhgus, p. 467. b. Culmen much longer than tarsus; tail of 18 feathers Mergansbb, p. 468. Genus MEB&US, Linn., 1766. An oceipital crest, small in females. Bill about as long as the head, tapering throughout, culmen straight; nostril large, about one-third the distance from base to tip of bill. "Wing short, pointed; tail rounded, of 16 feathers (occasionally 18 may be found); legs situated far back; tarsus very short, foot large. A single caecum only according to Blyth. There is but one species. 1612. Mergus albellus. The Smew. Mergus albellus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 209 (1766); Irby, Ibis, 1861, p. 251; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 464. Mergellus albellus, Blyth, Cat. p. 340; Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 818; Biythi Ibis, 1867, p. 176; Hume, 8. F. i, p. 265; Butler 8f Hume, iv, p. 31; Butler, vii, p. 188 ; Ball, ibid. p. 233; Hume, Cat. no. 973; Hume ^ Marsh. Game B. iii, p. 293, pi.; C. Swinh. Ibis, 1882, p. 125; Beid, S. F. x, p. 85; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 417. Nihmne, H. (Etawah, ).. Fig. 124.âHead of M. albellus. i. Ooloration. Male. Greater part of plumage white; a black patqh on lores including the eye and gape; the hinder feathers of
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