SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 479 



Mr. Gould noticed an individual perfectly reconciled to captivity, " although it 

 is known to be extremely bold and daring in capturing its prey when in a state 

 of nature." 



House Sparrow, Passer domesticus* — Grosbec moineau, Fr. — Haus Sperling, 

 G. — A male and female are figured, in their very best plumage, and truly 

 admirably executed. This bird is extensively distributed over Europe, North 

 Africa, and the hilly districts of India. In The Naturalist, Vol. II., the House 

 Sparrow is stated to be comparatively scarce in the neighbourhood ofDoncaster. 



On the same beautiful plate is figured, in an equally excellent and commend- 

 able manner, an adult male of the Tree Sparrow, Passer arboreus, — Grosbec 

 friquet, Fr. — Feld Sperling, G. — " Unlike the preceding species, which loves to 

 dwell in the streets of our towns, this affects the open country, where every field 

 and wood affords it food and a congenial habitat. In the British Islands it is 

 extremely local, being scarcely known in some counties, while in others, Essex, 

 Cambridgeshire, &c, it is tolerably abundant. It is found in most parts of 

 eentral and southern Europe, and we have received it from the Himalaya moun- 

 tains and from China. The food consists of seeds, grains, and insects. Like all 

 the other members of the genus, it is devoid of song. The nest is constructed in 

 the holes of stunted trees and pollards, and very closely resembles that of the 

 Common (or House) Sparrow, as do the eggs also, except that they are smaller." 

 There is no sexual difference of plumage. The Tree Sparrow is at once distin- 

 guished from the House Sparrow by its small size, by the black patch on its 

 ear-coverts, &c. 



Naumann's Thrush, Turdus Naumannii, — Merle Naumann, Fr. — The 

 representation, of an adult, size of life, is very creditable. This bird, interme- 

 diate between the Fieldfare and Redwing Thrushes, is abundant in Japan, but 

 in Europe occurs only, at irregular periods and in small numbers, in the eastern 

 portions. Habits unknown. The female is a trifle smaller and less bright in 

 tint than the other sex. 



Mallard Duck, Anas bosckas, — Canard ordinaire, Fr. — Anatra salvatica, It. 

 — Gemeine Ente, G. — A male and female, rather less than the natural size. As 

 a work of art we should pronounce this plate the ne plus ultra of excellence, but 

 there is too much of the character of the tame breed about the drake quite to 

 please the field naturalist. " The range of the Common Wild Duck extends over 

 the whole of the temperate portion of the globe ; and although we believe it is 

 scarcely ever found in a wild state south of the equator, its extreme limits 

 approach within a few degrees of the meridian. It is dispersed throughout this 



* Our author adopts Cuvikb's generic name Pyrgila, given solely, we presume, on account of 

 its Greek derivation. We prefer retaining Passer. 



3 R 2 



