SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 77 



holes of trees, preferring those which are ivy-clad ; sometimes takes 

 possession of the deserted nest of a Crow, or other large bird, in 

 which it lays its eggs, which are rather large, elliptical, and pure 

 white. Feeds on Mice, Shrews, Moles, &c. Syrtiium is apt to be 

 confounded with Surnia, and, therefore, Aluco is preferable. 



Common Pintail — Dqfila epilobium — Dafile ordinaire, Fr. — Lon- 

 guacoda commune. It. — Gemeiner Spiessen, G. In our opinion, 

 these figures, representing a male and female, natural size, are de- 

 cidedly the best in the Part ; the feathering is beautifully delicate. 

 Inhabits Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the temperate districts of 

 North America. Is a periodical visitant with us, and great num- 

 bers are annually caught in the various decoys, and sent to the 

 London markets. Nidificates in extensive beds of reeds, concealing 

 its nest in the thick herbage beside the water. Eggs eight, and 

 greenish-blue. The sexes offer much the same difference of plu- 

 mage as the Teal. Feeds on aquatic plants, insects, moUusca, &c., 

 and is said to be delicate eating. It does not stay to breed in Bri- 

 tain. 



Snowy Longspur — Plectrophanes nivalis, Mey. — Plectrophane 

 de-neige, Fr. — Plectrofano nivolo. It. — Schnee Plectrophe, G.— 

 Intended to be the size of life, but both the figures are far too thick 

 and heavy. The young and immature birds were described, by the 

 older writers, as the Tawny Bunting and Mountain Bunting ; but 

 the observations of Selby and others have long since satisfactorily 

 dispersed the mist in which this species was once enveloped. Inha- 

 bits Europe and America. Winter visitant with us, resorting to 

 barren upland tracts. Arrives in October, and departs before the 

 end of winter. Builds in the niches of rocks, or among large stones 

 on the sea-shore ; the nest consists of dried grass, lined with hair 

 or feathers. Eggs six or seven, pale flesh-colour, with small dots, 

 and at the larger end blotches of reddish-brown. Food : the seeds 

 of alpine plants, insects, and their larvae. 



Kentish Plo er — Charndrius cantianus. Lath. — Pluvier de ri- 

 vage, Fr. — Weisstirniger Regenpfeifer, G. Pretty figures, but 

 they have too starved an appearance. The best plate we have seen 

 of this species is in INIudie's Feathered Tribes. Common on the 

 southern coasts of England, and likewise on those of France and 

 Holland. Subsists on marine insects and Worms, which it finds 

 amongst the loose stones. Lays its five yellow eggs, marked with 

 irregular blotches of dark brown, on the naked sand, or among the 

 shingles on the beach. The female is known by the absence of the 

 black band on the forehead. 



