SKETCHES OP EUROPEAN ORNITHOLOGY. 39 



might be swallowed during the process of preening the feathers, but 

 not to the amount in which they appear to be commonly met with. 

 Besides, why should that be the case with the Grebes alone, and es- 

 pecially in the Crested species ? But we must pass on. 



On the next plate are figured a male and female, size of life, of 

 that beautiful little bird the Dartford Whinling, Melizophilus pro- 

 vincialis — Becfin pittechou, Ft\ This species is very local in its 

 distribution, being only found in the warmer parts of Britain and Eu- 

 rope. In this country it is chiefly met with near London, frequenting 

 furze commons, where it breeds. The nest consists of dry grass and 

 vegetable fibres, intermingled with wool. The eggs resemble those 

 of the Whitethroated Fauvet. The plumage of the female is more 

 dusky than that of the male. Our author's representations are very 

 faithful. Montagu's description of this species is remarkably inte- 

 resting, and is, we doubt not, familiar to our readers. 



Baillon's Crake, Crex Baillonii — Poule-d'eau Baillon, Fr. An 

 adult and a young bird are figured ; the attitudes are not unexception- 

 able, but the representations are otherwise excellent. Inhabits the 

 southern and south-eastern districts of Europe, and has occasionally 

 been taken in England, though its occurrence in this country was un- 

 known before the time of Montagu, the indefatigable author of the 

 Ornithological Dictionary, a work which will always be valuable in 

 the eyes of the ornithologist. This pretty little bird frequents the 

 margins of lakes, rivers, and marshes, especially where vegetation is 

 luxuriant. Here it sedulously hides itself from observation, and can 

 rarely be induced to take wing. " It is said to be able to swim and 

 dive very readily, and makes its nest near the water's edge, in which 

 it deposits seven or eight eggs, not unlike a large olive in form, size, 

 and ground-colour, but spotted with darker greenish-brown." Feeds 

 on worms, slugs, insects, seeds of plants, &c. " A specimen in the 

 collection of the Rev. Dr. Thackeray, Provost of King's College, 

 Cambridge, was taken, during a cold and frosty January, on some ice 

 near Melbourn, about nine miles south of Cambridge. To this spot, 

 originally fen land, the poor bird had resorted, in an inclement sea- 

 son, to obtain a meal, but, having wandered far from its native and 

 more congenial latitude, was so exhausted by want of food or the 

 low temperature of the season, or the combined effects of both, as to 

 allow itself to be taken alive by the hand." The sexes scarcely dif- 

 fer at all, but the young birds want the blue-gray colour on the under 

 parts characteristic of maturity. 



Scarlet Trasccl, Erythrospiza erythrina — Bouvrcuil Pallas, Fr. 



