. An illustrated manual of British birds . n the nape by a narrow black line running to the back,which is also black ; near the point of the wing a conspicuous tuftof white feathers broadly edged with black; the long falcated innerscapulars black, and the outer ones chiefly white ; speculum white,barred with black; rump, flanks, and tail-coverts vermiculated withgrey ; lower neck pale chestnut-brown, streaked with black; underparts white; legs and toes reddish-orange. Length 24 in. ; wing10 in. The female is smaller and has the head and neck of a red-dish-brown, like the hen Goosander—which sh
. An illustrated manual of British birds . n the nape by a narrow black line running to the back,which is also black ; near the point of the wing a conspicuous tuftof white feathers broadly edged with black; the long falcated innerscapulars black, and the outer ones chiefly white ; speculum white,barred with black; rump, flanks, and tail-coverts vermiculated withgrey ; lower neck pale chestnut-brown, streaked with black; underparts white; legs and toes reddish-orange. Length 24 in. ; wing10 in. The female is smaller and has the head and neck of a red-dish-brown, like the hen Goosander—which she somewhat resembles,though her back is much browner; there is a very distinct black baracross the alar speculum ; and her dimensions are much less, thelength of her wing being only 9 in. The young resemble herin plumage, but males may be recognized by a perceptible enlarge-ment at the base of the trachea. They do not attain their full dresstill after their second autumn moult ; and the old drakes lose theirbright colours in summer. 46:. THE albellus, Linnaeus. The Smew, or Smee—sometimes called Nun, from the sharplycontrasted plumage of the male—is the smallest member of thegenus, and the least numerous of the three Saw-bills which frequentour islands. Young birds and females, known to fishermen as Red-headed Smews, are not uncommon in winter along the eastern sideof England and Scotland, but males in full dress are seldom metwith, as they keep further out at sea, and rarely approach the shore,except in very severe seasons. In the south it is of tolerablyregular occurrence on the sheltered estuaries and inland waters ;though along the west coast of England, and also of Scotland, itis comparatively scarce, and in the Outer Hebrides is decidedlyrare. To Ireland it is an irregular visitor in cold weather. This species is not known in the Faeroes, Iceland, or (Greenland,and even in winter is seldom found on the coast of Norway or ofthat portion of Sweden which li
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