242 SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 



and other shelled and naked Mollusca, confines them almost ex- 

 clusively to the sea, and they are remarkable for their activity and 

 dexterity in diving." Builds amongst herbage near the sea-shore, 

 the female lining her nest v/ith down from her breast, which is con- 

 sidered equal in value to the celebrated product of the Eider. Lays 

 from ten to fourteen bluish-white eggs, tinged with olive. In sum- 

 mer the white on the head of the adult male — characteristic of the 

 sex and age — becomes of a dark brown ; and the young male and 

 adult female are dark brown above, lighter on the breast, and grey- 

 ish-white underneath. 



The Common Crane, Grus cinerea — Grue cendree, Fr. — Grue 

 commune. It. — Aschgrauer Kranich, G. A fine plate, by Lear, re- 

 presenting the adult male, half size, but with the right leg in an 

 unnatural position. Common in the north of Europe and Asia, vi- 

 siting France and Germany, and formerly common in this country, 

 but now rarely seen, having been banished by the drainage of its 

 favourite marshes, the inclosures of wild tracts, &c. This beautiful 

 bird feeds on grains, aquatic plants. Frogs, Worms, and fresh-water 

 shells. Nidificates amongst Osiers or Reeds on the borders of lakes, 

 and occasionally on the tops of deserted buildings, depositing two 

 dull greenish eggs, dashed with brown. The sexes differ little, but 

 the plumes are said to be shorter and less graceful in the female. 

 Very old males have a long white streak behind the eye. 



The Sombre Tit, Parus lugubris — Mesange lugubre, Fr. Very 

 fairly executed, but, we think, rather too sombre even for the Som- 

 bre Tit. Almost confined to the European confines of the Asiatic 

 border. It is about the size of our Garden Tit, which our author 

 supposes it to resemble in habits. The male and female agree in 

 plumage : "^ the whole of the upper surface of a brownish ash co- 

 lour, becoming deeper on the top of the head ; the secondaries and 

 tail-feathers slightly margined with whitish ; throat brownish- 

 black ; the cheeks and the whole of the under surface white, slight- 

 ly tinted with brownish-grey ; beak and feet lead colour.'* 



On the same plate is figured, very happily, the Siberian Tit, Pa- 

 rus Sibericus — Mesange a-ceinture-blanche, Fr. Equally rare with 

 the former, and easily distinguished from it by its smaller size and 

 longer tail. Reported to inhabit the north of Europe and Asia, 

 and to visit Russia in winter. " The upper surface is of a deep 

 ash colour, tinged on the back with brown ; the quills, secondaries, 

 and tail-feathers, edged with white ; throat black ; cheeks and up- 

 per part of the chest pure white ; under parts greyish-white, wash- 

 ed with rufous on the flanks ; bill and tarsi lead colour." Judging 



