72 SKETCHES OF EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



piper — Totanus hypoleucos — ^but is considerably smaller, of a red- 

 dish white colour, spotted with dark brown. 



The Garrulous Roller — Coracias garrula, Linn. — RoUier vul- 

 gaire, Fr. — Blaue Racke, G. An adult female, natural size, is 

 figured ; a very fair representation. This beautiful bird is stated 

 to be abundant in the oak forests of Germany, and likewise in those 

 of Scandinavia. It is less common in France, and several individu- 

 als have been shot in England, where it has mostly been met with 

 on the north-eastern coast. Frequents extensive woods ; builds in 

 the holes of decayed trees, and lays from four to seven eggs ; these 

 are smooth and shining, nearly round, closely resembling those of 

 the Kingfisher, but considerably larger. Sexes differ little ; but 

 the young do not arrive at their full brilliancy till the second year. 

 Food : worms, snails, insects, &c. Noisy and active in its habits. 



The next plate contains, 1 st, the Whitethroated Fauvet, Ficedula 

 cinerea, Blyth — Fauvette grise, Fr. — Fahle Sanger, G. — Capinera 

 commune. It. The character of the figure is good, but Mr. Gould 

 has not recorded any changes of plumage. In many specimens the 

 white does not extend lower than the breast. Very common in 

 most parts of Britain and Europe, and has a short but pleasant 

 song, uttered on the wing. Mr. Gould informs us it has the power 

 of imitating the notes of other birds, but this we have never observ- 

 ed. Hedges and thick brakes are its favourite resort. It is a sum- 

 mer visitant with us. Makes its nest in low bushes, and sometimes 

 on the ground (we have seen one in a yew tree) ; it consists of the 

 stalks of the Common Bedstraw — Galium aparine — and is of very 

 slight construction. Eggs four or five, of a dirty white, blotched 

 with ash-gray. The second figure is the Whitebreasted Fauvet, 

 — Ficedula garrula, Blyth — Fauvette babillard, Fr. — KJapper 

 Sanger, G. It differs from the last in its smaller size, and in hav- 

 ing the whole under parts of a silvery white. Mr. Gould's figure is 

 a very good one. This bird is less common in England than the 

 Whitethroated Fauvet, and has not been traced further to the 

 north than Yorkshire. Inhabits the warmer parts of Europe. It 

 is shy in its habits, but is rather more of a tree-bird than the last 

 species ; builds in low bushes, brambles, nettles, &c., and is often 

 seen threading the interstices of hedges and brakes ; it is partial to 

 orchards, and may be seen at the tops of lofty trees. Eggs four or 

 five, nearly white, blotched at the larger end with gray. It is, also, 

 a summer visitant, and has a pleasant song, which we never heard 

 it utter on the wing. Sexes resemble each other. Both these 

 figures are of the natural size, and in their spring plumage. 



