the Ionian Islands during the two winters that I passed
in that part of the world. In these last-named localities
we frequently met with young Smews in narrow inlets,
where approach was easy, but their elders took remarkably
good care of themselves, and it was only by chance
that we ever got within shot of an adult. The flight of
the Smew much resembles and is quite as swift as that
of the Teal, and, in common with the other members of
the genus Mergus, it is a strong and rapid diver. I
have of late years obtained several of this species alive;
but I cannot say that they thrive very well on my “ fowl-
ponds,” though they take readily enough to a diet of
chopped fish and meat, and are especially fond of frogs.
Two adult males, now in my possession, have become
very tame, and come out of the water to be fed together
with a heterogeneous assemblage of Cranes, Storks,
Herons, Ducks, Pochards, and Goosanders. Mr. Wolley’s
most interesting account of his discovery of the breeding-
habits of the Smew in Lapland was originally published
in ‘The Ibis’ for 1859, and is quoted at considerable
length by the editor of the fourth edition of ‘Yarrell,’
vol. iv. pp. 501-506. It is sufficient to say here that
this species is stated, loc. supr. cit., to breed in the
northern districts of Russia and in suitable localities in
the valley of the Volga, and along the whole line of the
Ural Mountains, as well as in Northern Asia. In winter
it ranges from the coasts of Portugal and Morocco to
Japan, China, and the northern portions of India; in
my own experience it is very much more frequent in the
eastern than the western districts of the Mediterranean.