SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 357 



note. Both sexes assume the red attire in spring, but the female is larger than 

 the male, and more dusky in colour. 



Alpine Dunnock, Accentor Atpinus, — Accenteur des-Alpes, Fr. — Alpen 

 Fluevogel, G. The figures, of a male and female, are of the living size, and 

 perfectly characteristic. Inhabits the bleak and mountainous parts of the Con- 

 tinent. " It is extremely common in Switzerland and the Tyrol, ascending in 

 summer to their most elevated portions, and seeking shelter, as winter advances, 

 in their vallies and central regions." This bird has now claimed a place in our 

 fauna several years, and not a few specimens have been met with in Britain. 

 Subsists on Worms, insects, &c, and is said to destroy Locusts and Grasshoppers. 

 Breeds in the fissures of rocks, laying four or five greenish blue eggs, only differing 

 from those of our Hedge Dunnock in size. The sexes do not differ. 



Mountain Linnet, Linaria montana, — Grosbec de-montagne, Fr. — Ark- 

 tische Fink, G. One figure, of an adult male in summer, is given ; we find no 

 fault with it. This bird is intermediate in size between the Whin Linnet (L. 

 cannabina) and the Redpoll Linnet (L. minor). It is abundant in the north of 

 Europe, and within the Arctic circle. Common with us in winter, and breeds in 

 the uplands of Scotland, the Orkneys, &c, but in limited numbers. The female 

 has no pink on the rump, and is somewhat smaller than the male. 



Short-toed Lark, Alauda brachydactyla, — Alouette a-doigts-courts, Fr. — 

 Kurzehige Lerche, G. The plate contains figures of a male and female; we 

 greatly prefer that of the former ; the other has too much the appearance of a 

 young bird. Abounds on the hot sandy plains of Spain, and is found along the 

 whole of the borders of the Mediterranean. Never occurs further north than the 

 south of France, and there but seldom. Breeds on the ground, and lays five eggs 

 of an isabelle yellow. The plumage of the female only differs from that of the 

 male in being duller ; and young birds during the first autumn " have the outer 

 edges of each feather margined with buff." Although the hind claw is somewhat 

 produced, and although the whole foot is essentially that of a Lark, it differs 

 remarkably from that of our Sky Lark. The bill is also slightly more robust. 



Dalmatian Pelican, Felecanus crispus. — An adult and a young bird, about 

 one-fourth of the size of life, are figured in E. Lear's usual bold and excellent 

 style. Mr. Gould commences by expressing just surprise that so large and 

 striking a bird should so recently have become known to the ornithologist* The 

 individuals from which the figures are taken were sent to the author by Baron 

 De Feldegg, who has killed as many as twenty-four on the shores of Dalmatia. 

 " P. crispus differs from the Common Pelican in possessing a beautiful crest and 

 mane of narrow, elongated, silky feathers ; in the naked space around the eye 

 being smaller ; in the feathers of the breast being stiff, lanceolate, rounded at the 



yol. hi. — no. xxii. 3 B 



