480 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



vast extent of country, and every where shows the same instinct, and the same 

 disposition to become domestic and familiar." 



Reed Locustell, Locustella fluviatilis. — Becfin riverain, Fr. — Fluss Sanger, 

 G. — The figure, of an adult male, is much too heavy and sombre, and looks as if 

 engaged in very deep Betrachtungen !* It is very rare in the west of Europe, 

 but plentiful in Austria and Hungary, and also in the island-gardens in the 

 Danube, near Vienna. In habits, nidification, note, structure, and length of the 

 hind claw, it closely resembles the Sibilous Locustell, L. sibilans, of Britain. 

 " Although it resorts to low situations, it does not confine itself to Reed-beds, 

 but rather prefers swampy coppices and thickets." The sexes do not differ. 



Redbreasted Goose, Anser rufi,collis, — Oie a-cou-roux, Fr. — Roth-hals Gans, 

 G. — A lovely figure of the male, somewhat under the living size. Very rare in 

 Britain, as also on the continent, except in the most north-eastern portions, where 

 it is more plentiful. " The countries to which it habitually resorts are doubtless 

 the extreme northern parts of Asia and Siberia, its migrations in summer extend- 

 ing to the shores of the Frozen Ocean, where it breeds and rears its young." It 

 only approaches temperate climes in extraordinarily severe seasons. The first 

 British specimen we are aware of was killed in 1 776 ; a few others have since 

 been taken, and, says Mr. Stephens, several were captured in the severe winter 

 of 1813, in Cambridgeshire. It agrees in habits with the rest of the genus, with, 

 of course, slight modifications. Feeds on vegetable matters, and its flesh is 

 considered good eating. We imagine, with our author, that the sexual differences 

 of plumage, if any, will be slight. 



Honev Pern, Pernis apivorus, — Buse bondree, Fr. — Wespen Busard, G. — A 

 figure of the bird in the plumage of the first year, with which we cannot find a 

 single objection. Rather sparingly distributed over Europe, including Britain, 

 and occurs also in India. It differs from the Common Buzzard " in possessing a 

 feebler and softer bill, which is wider in the gape, and in having shorter and less 

 powerful tarsi and toes, the claws of which are straighter and less retractile : it 

 may also be distinguished from the members of the genus Bateo by the small 

 and closely-set feathers which cover the space between the bill and the eye, which 

 space in all the rest of the Falconidon is either bare or thinly covered with fine 

 hairs or bristles. — Its favourite food appears to be insects, Wasps, Bees, and their 

 larvae, to which are added Lizards, small birds, Mice, and Moles. It builds in 

 lofty trees, constructing a nest of twigs lined with wool and other soft materials ; 

 the eggs are small, of a yellowish white, marked with numerous spots of reddish 

 brown." " Its flight is easy and graceful, and, like its near ally, the Common 



* This is a most expressive German word, for which we have no exact analogue in English. It 

 conveys the idea of observation and reflection combined. 



