76 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



c'^ Ox keeper," from its associating with the cattle, and feeding on 

 the larvae with which the backs of these animals are infested. 

 Nidificates amongst the herbage in morasses, and lays five white 

 eggs. The colour of this handsome bird is pure white. We beg 

 to suggest the propriety of removing this bird from the genus Ar- 

 dea. It might stand as the Garzetia pusilla. 



Haw Grosbeak — Coccothraustes Crataegus, Blyth — Grosbec ordi- 

 naire, Fr. — Frosone commune, It. — Kirsch Kernbeisser, G. The 

 male and female are represented the size of life. Both of them are 

 too thick and heavy, but the head and bill of the female, in a diffi- 

 cult attitude, is lovely, and the colouring is good. Occurs almost 

 throughout Europe, and has lately been discovered to breed in the 

 south of England. It is now proved to be indigenous, and we 

 agree with our author in thinking that its numbers must have in- 

 creased considerably of late years in England. Mr. Blyth informs 

 us he has a live female in his possession, and that he has seen seve- 

 ral others in his neighbourhood. Feeds on slugs, berries, seeds, 

 and the kernels of stone fruits, which it cracks with ease. It 

 breeds in May and June, in Fir and other trees of various altitudes. 

 The nest is shallow and loose, consisting of sticks interspersed with 

 white lichens, and is lined with roots. It is stated to be even less 

 compact than that of the Hedge Alp, Pyrrhula vulgaris. Eggs 

 from four to six, pale greenish-white, spotted and streaked with 

 grey and brown. The throat, cheeks, and head of the young are of 

 a dull yellowish colour, under parts white, the flanks marked with 

 brown streaks, and the upper parts spotted with dirty yellow. The 

 female is of a more dingy hue than the male. 



Two adult figures of the Marsh Hoopoe — Upupa epops, Linn. — 

 Huppe commune, Fr. — Upupa rubbola, It. — Gebanderter Wiede- 

 hopf, G. The female, represented in the act of coming out of the 

 hole of a tree, is admirable, but both figures would give an idea of 

 much larger birds than is actually the case. Extends over the 

 whole of Europe and Africa, and specimens have been received 

 from India and China. Rare and irregular visitor to Britain, 

 where, however, it has been known to breed occasionally. Builds 

 in holes of trees, crevices in rocks, fissures in walls, holes in the 

 ground, or dunghills. Eggs five, light grey, clouded with dark 

 grey. Sexes and young similar. Feeds on insects, grubs, &c. 



Tawny Hooter — Aluco stridida — Chouette hulotte, Fr. — Alucco 

 maggiore, //. — Brand Kaute, G. An excellent figure, natural 

 size. Inhabits the more extensive forests of the continent, but is 

 rare in Holland ; extremely common in England. Builds in the 



