240 SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



of the original ; the plate represents the male and female, natural 

 size. The colour of the female is much less bright than that of the 

 male. Common in Europe, especially where the Birch and Alder 

 abound ; and we are glad to find our author correcting the usual 

 notion of the rarity of this species in Britain ; we have even as- 

 certained that it breeds in this country, and have received specimens 

 at almost every season of the year. Feeds on the buds of trees, and 

 possesses a short but rather agreeable song. This circumstance, 

 combined with its lively and pleasing manners, renders it a coveted 

 bird with the fancier, and the trade in London catch hundreds of 

 them every winter. — Builds on the upper branches of lofty trees, 

 laying five light grey eggs, with minute purple dots. We should be 

 glad to hear of the Siskin being met with in England in summer, 

 and that it commonly breeds with us. 



The Rednecked Grebe, Podiceps ruhricolliSi Lath. — Grebe jou- 

 gris, Fr. — Graukehliger Steissfuss, G. Beautiful representations, 

 natural size, of an adult in summer plumage, and a young bird of 

 the year. Habitat the Eastern portion of Europe, and the adjacent 

 parts of Asia ; found, but less abundantly, in the rest of Europe ; 

 rare with us. Frequents large lakes and rivers, and the sea-coast. 

 Food the same as that of the other Grebes. The young want the 

 rufous colour on the neck of the adults. 



Cinereous Vulture, Vutur cinereus — Vautour noir, JPr. — Avol- 

 toio lepraiolo. It. — Grauer Geier, G. An excellent figure of the 

 adult male, one third of the size of nature, the best bird of prey Mr. 

 Gould has figured thus far. Inhabits the extensive forests of Hun- 

 gary, the mountains of the Tyrol, the Swiss Alps, the Pyrenees, 

 and the middle of Spain and Italy, but never seen in Britain. 

 Temminck says it only feeds on dead animals; but Bechstein af- 

 firms that it will attack Sheep, Goats, and even Deer, picking out 

 their eyes, and being very troublesome to the farmers. 



Two rather dumpy engravings of the Green Grosbeak, Cocco^ 

 thraustes chloris — Grosbec verdier, Fr. — Verdone, It. — Gruner 

 Kernbeisser, G. An adult male and a young bird, natural size. 

 Indigenous and common in the whole of Europe. Mr. Gould says 

 nothing about the insects and caterpillars eaten by these birds ; nor 

 we believe, has any author noticed the circumstance, although the 

 nestlings are brought up almost entirely on animal food — chiefly 

 small green caterpillars. 



Collared Pratincole, Glareola torquata — Glareole a collier, Fr. — 

 Glareola, It. — Rothfussige Sandhuhn, G. A male and female, na- 

 tural size, are extremely well hit off. Inhabits the extensive plains 



