SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 481 



Buzzard, its great size readily attracts the notice of the keeper and sportsman, 

 to whom it soon becomes a prey when it takes up its abode in our woods or 

 parks." The sexes do not differ. 



Common Nighthern, Nycticorax Europceus, — Bihoreau a-manteau-noir, Fr. 

 — Sgarza nitticora, It. — Nacht Reiher, fif. — An adult and a young bird, of the 

 natural size, are well figured. Dispersed over the whole of Europe, Asia, and 

 North Africa, and perhaps, also, North America ; but it is not certain whether 

 the Nightherns of Europe and America are identical. " In form it is interme- 

 diate between the Herons and the Bitterns, and partakes of the habits of both, 

 for although it affects more reedy and secluded situations, it frequently resorts 

 during the day to high trees and woods, where it may be seen perched on the 

 topmost branches. On the approach of evening it retires to the marsh or the 

 river-side, T which never fail to afford it a plentiful supply of food : when fish 

 cannot be obtained it feeds upon Frogs, insects, and Mice. It breeds in society, 

 much after the manner of the Common Heron ; and constructs a nest, composed 

 entirely of sticks, on the topmost branches of trees, or, where, no suitable woods 

 are near its accustomed haunts, among Reeds ; the eggs are four in number, of a 

 pale greenish blue." The synonyms of this species, in different stages, are very 

 numerous. Young birds in nestling plumage have no plumes at the back of 

 the head. 



Spotted Zapeun, Zapornia porzana, — Poule-d'eau marouette, Fr. — Gallinella 

 sutro, It. — Punktiertes Rohrhuhn, G. — A very characteristic figure, natural size, 

 of an adult. Abundant in the northern and eastern parts of Europe, the north 

 of Asia, &c, and is a spring visitant with us. The Spotted Zapern and its 

 congeners are strictly aquatic, and although not web-footed, they swim with the 

 greatest facility. " The dense vegetation along the borders of marshes and pools 

 is the situation to which they are particularly attached : they are rarely seen on 

 the wing, and are scarcely ever flushed unless closely pursued by a Dog." " Its 

 nest," says Mr. Selby, " is built among the thick Sedges and Reeds of the 

 marshes, and from the foundation of it being frequently placed in water, is com- 

 posed of a large mass of decayed leaves interlaced, with the hollow neatly formed, 

 and comfortably lined. The eggs are eight or ten in number, of a yellowish-grey 

 colour, with a tinge of pink, and with round spots of umber-brown of various 

 sizes, and with other secondary colours of a lighter Bhade. It feeds on Worms, 

 aquatic insects, Slugs, seeds, &c. ; and its flesh is sweet and well-flavoured. In 

 autumn it becomes loaded with fat, a layer of nearly a quarter of an inch in 

 thickness covering the whole surface of its body." The sexes and young'offer no 

 remarkable differences of plumage. 



Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis, — Pipit farlouse, Fr. — Wiesen Pieper, G. — 

 A pair of these birds — male and female — are prettily figured, with the exception 



