SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 477 



constitute its native habitat. Our knowledge of this species is so limited that we 

 are unable to state with certainty whether the black gorget is characteristic of 

 the summer plumage, or whether, when once acquired, it is permanent : we 

 suspect the latter to be the case, as we have received specimens in various stages 

 of plumage, some of which were totally devoid of the black throat, while others 

 had it partially developed ; in all probability these last were females or imma- 

 ture birds." 



Yellow Bunting, Emberiza citrindla, — Bruant jaune, Fr. — Gold Amraer,* 

 G. — A male and female are represented : the former being a very pleasing figure 

 of this beautiful bird. Confined to Europe, where it is everywhere indigenous 

 and extremely abundant. We need proceed no further with its history. 



Maksh Harrier, Circus rufus, — Busard de-marais, Fr. — Falco albanella, It. 

 — Sumpf Weihe, G. — Lear has here displayed his talents to great effect in 

 figures of an adult and a young bird about three-fourths of the natural size. 

 Inhabits the low marshy portions of Europe, Africa, and a considerable part of 

 Asia. From the circumstance of most of the individuals of this species shot in 

 Britain being young birds, our author opines that but few Marsh Harriers breed 

 in our Island. Being a conspicuous bird, and many years attaining its mature 

 attire, the adult is very rarely found with us. " It is certain that it breeds 

 while yet in the deep chocolate-coloured plumage," which it retains during many 

 of its earlier years. The tail-feathers and secondaries are grey in the adult. 

 " Like the rest of the Harriers its flight is buoyant and sweeping, but generalty 

 at a low elevation : it traverses over the moors and marshes in search of its prey, 

 which consists of Frogs, Lizards, Mice, insects, and even fish. The nest is placed 

 on the ground among low bushes or Reeds, generally near the edge of the water : 

 the eggs are four in number, white, and rounded." 



Barred Fauvet, Curruea nisoria, — Becfin rayee, Fr. — Gesperbter Gras- 

 miicke, G. — A male of the natural size, and apparently a good figure. We feel 

 pretty well assured that it will be found necessary to institute a new genus for 

 the reception of this species, as no generic group with which we are acquainted in 

 the Warbler family (SylviadcB) could find a place for it. " Temminck informs 

 us that it inhabits bushes and thickets, is abundantly spread throughout the 

 north, occurring in Sweden and in the provinces of the north of Germany and 

 Hungary : it is of more rare occurrence in Austria, and is also found in Lombardy. 

 Its food consists of insects, caterpillars, Worms, and berries. It builds in tufted 

 HawthQrn-bushes, and lays four or five eggs, of a whitish colour, blotched with 

 purplish-ash or pure ash-colour." " The young, before their first moult, have the 

 whole of the body marked with minute transverse rays of ashy brown ; irides 



* Ammer is the German for Bunting, whence our " Yellow Hammer" as provinciallv applied to 

 E. citrinella. 



VOL. III.- NO. XXIV. 3 R 



