SMEW.
MERGUS ALBELLVS.
TBI Smew appears to be met with more frequently OB tlie stout hern anil eastern coasts of England than
on any other portion of the British Islands ; during the seasons I passed shooting and collecting on tho firths
of tho Northern Highlands and about the saudy ban ur the Eorlb in East Lothian, not a single specimen
was met with.
In the winters of 1«."i0 and the three or four following years several, in various stages of plumage, were
obtained by the local fowlers about the open-water dykes and pools in the marshes rouud ltyo and Win eh el sea,
as well as on the river and harbour near the former limn. An old gunner who had followed his calling
with the help of an antiquated and rickety musket, apparently utterly unserviceable, but making, according
to its owner's report, most marvellous shots, brought for my inspection an adult male in the finest state of
plumage; this handsome fowl he persisted in calling a "Greenland ice-bird." I did not then suecced iu
securing a single specimen, either adult or immature; a duck and dr.ike knocked down with the same
barrel one wintry evening in December ISM, while flying out of the Nook, were carried out of the harbour
ou the ebb-tide, the rapidly increasing darkness precluding all chances of falling in with them if followed in
a boat. A few days later, on a cold frosty morning sliorily after daybreak, 1 was watching another fine old
drake flying down from the upper part of the river in a line fur the harbour, and remarked that the course
be was holding must bring him within range, when a couple or shots fired by a gunner concealed in an old and
disabled craft lying ou the mudtlats, though ap]iarcnlly with blllc effect, caused the bird to swerve to the
west and lower bis line of flight. As be gradually dropped I took out the glasses and kept him in view,
till, while crossing the line of railway towards the harliour mouth, he earn in contact with a uotice-board,
and alter fluttering a short distance, rose a few reel iu the air and instantly fell. On making my way to
the spot, I mounted the post of a marsh-gate to obtain a view, and at once detected the old drake with his
wings spread out in a small drain, his conspicuous plumage at once attracting attention. Having a good
idea as to where the guuuer who fired the shot might he found, I picked up tho bird and, after returning
to the harbour mouth, ciuliarked in a small tlal-bottomed lwat in which I had been accustomed to explore
the shallow creeks of the Nook, and took the flood-tide Bp the river shortly after midday. After leaving
the water it was a long tramp across the marshes; hut taking advantage of ono or two inviting slades, a fewcouple
of Snipe were bagged, and the shuts eventually attracted the man of whom I was ¡11 search. Much
surprised at the sight of his Smew, which he fully believed had carried off the charge, bis thanks were
profuse; and in return I enjoyed many a good day's sport at the long-hills when in the district, some of
the shades and creeks in this locnlilv being about the most attractive feeding-grounds anil harbour for Snipe
that have come under my observation.
During the severe weather succeeding the terrible gale of the 17th of January, IBM, I noticed several
Smews ia immature plumage in the Channel oil' Shorchnui, Ijueing, and Worthing ; on the iind and 28th