W SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



fibres and leaves. The eggs are five, reddish-grey, marked with 

 brown streaks. The female lacks the yellow and the reddish-brown 

 tints which adorn the male. 



Red-crested Pochard — Fuligida rujina, Steph. — Milouin siffleur, 

 Fr. — Milouina col-ciufFo, It. — Kolben Pochard, G. Elaborately- 

 finished and beautiful figures of the male and female, three-fourths 

 of the natural size. Common over nearly the whole of Europe, 

 but,- unfortunately, very rare in this country. Feeds on small 

 shell-fish, mollusca, the fry of fishes, vegetables, &c. The male is 

 at once distinguished by the beautiful tuft of silky feathers which 

 adorns the head and upper part of the neck. 



Tawny Toadeater — Bubo maximus^ Sibb. — Granduc brun, Fr. — 

 Gufo reale. It. — Grosser Kuhu, G. A very fair representation of 

 the adult, three-fourths of the natural size. Europe, especially 

 Scandinavia, and the parallel latitudes of Russia, form its habitat. 

 Rare in England. Preys on young Deer, Hares, Grous, &c. 

 Builds in the clefts of rocks or the holes of old trees. Lays three 

 eggs, of a rounded shape and white colour. The female is known 

 from the male by its superior size and brighter colour. 



Adult male and female, natural size, of the Hobby Falcon — Fau- 

 con hobereau, Fr. — Falco barletta, It. — Baum Falke, G. Charac- 

 teristic figures, but rather tame. Is spread over the whole of Eu- 

 rope, where it is migratory, passing to the south on the approach of 

 the inclement seasons. It is a summer visitant in England. Feeds 

 chiefly on insects, but also on small birds. Builds in trees or even 

 bushes, and sometimes appropriates the nest of a Crow. Lays three 

 dull white eggs, mottled with reddish-brown. 



Pine Crossbill — Crucirostra pinetormn, ]\Iey. — Bec-croise des sa- 

 pins, Fr. — Kiefern Kreuzschnabel, G. — Tannen Papegai, It. — 

 Two figures, natural size ; they are much too thick and large, and 

 not otherwise characteristic. Is migratory in Poland, Russia, and 

 Germany ; very rare in France, Holland, and Britain. Feeds on 

 the seeds of the Fir, for the extraction of which its bill is admirably 

 adapted. This beautiful species, which has been called " Parrot 

 Crossbill," is the type of the limited genus Crucirostra. 



Ring Plover — Charadrius hiaticula, Linn. — Pluvier a-collier, Fr, 

 — Piviere col-coliere. It. — Halsband Regenpfeifer, G. Too fat and 

 dumpy, but otherwise good. Inhabits the temperate portions of 

 Europe and North America, frequenting sea-shores and rivers. 

 Breeds on the shore, amongst gravel and broken shells, and lays 

 rather large eggs, yellowish-white, streaked and spotted irregularly 

 with black, especially at the large end. Feeds on Worms and 

 insects. 



